On Laman and Lemuel

I've been thinking a lot about Laman and Lemuel this time while reading the Book of Mormon. I know we want to be like Nephi (or Sam or Zoram) but I feel we also need to understand a little bit more about Laman and Lemuel to make sure we aren't like them.

So first, we always think of Laman and Lemuel as wicked. But why? They left Jerusalem. They went back for the plates. They went back for wives. They left their original "campsite" to go further into the wildnerness. They left on a boat they claimed they thought would sink. They were obedient to a degree. My mission president used to say that our attitude matters with obedience. We can't just be obedient on the outside. It needs to come from within. He would say, take it to heart. To me this is because to be completely obedient, all the time, we need to have it come from within. That is why only we can convert ourselves. We can't truly convert anyone else. We can help others feel the Spirit. We can teach truth. But we can't actually make anyone convert- that comes from them- from within. From within the heart.

So, some things I noticed this time was when they are in the wilderness they always talk about how they should go back to Jerusalem. But when they are in Jerusalem they don't ever say, "Hey, you can go get the plates from Laban- we're just going to go home and enjoy our riches again." No, they say, this is too hard- let's go back to the wilderness. This strikes me as a little funny/ironic. But it also leads me to think that they had moments of knowing certain things were right- like it was right to leave Jerusalem. So why didn't it stick?

Then in Lehi's dream, Lehi gets to the tree and eats of the fruit. It brings him so much joy that he looks for his family to share it with them. He beckons to his wife and his sons. Nephi and Sam and his wife come and partake of the fruit. Laman and Lemuel however don't ever come to the tree in the dream. There were people who came to the tree, partook of the fruit and then became ashamed and wandered off. This was not Laman and Lemuel. They never believed enough to even come to the tree. Now, before I get back to Laman and Lemuel, we don't want to be in the group of people that come to the tree, are ashamed and leave again, so even if we partake of the fruit for ourselves, still don't leave.

1 Nephi 19:23-24 and chapters 20-22 in more depth

To direct your study:

From the Come Follow Me Manual

1 Nephi 19:23–24; 20–22

I can “liken all scriptures” to myself.

Isaiah wrote to all the children of Israel, and Nephi saw that this included his own family specifically—and it includes you (see 1 Nephi 19:23–24). Regarding Nephi’s quotations of Isaiah, President Henry B. Eyring said, “I read Isaiah’s words … assuming Nephi picked the parts of Isaiah that I, without worrying about the imagery, could take directly to my heart as if the Lord were speaking to me” (“The Book of Mormon Will Change Your Life,” Ensign, Feb. 2004, 10).

With President Eyring’s words in mind, consider questions like the following as you read chapters 20–22:

1 Nephi 20:1–9.

What phrases in these verses describe the children of Israel? How do they describe Laman and Lemuel? What warnings and application do you find for yourself?

1 Nephi 20:17–22.

How did the Lord lead the children of Israel? How did He lead Lehi’s family? How does He guide you?

What else do you find in 1 Nephi 20–22 that makes you feel as if the Lord were speaking to you? How does Nephi’s commentary in chapter 22 help you understand Isaiah’s prophecies?

Scriptures

Chapter 19

23 And I did read many things unto them which were written in the ^abooks of Moses; but that I might more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord their Redeemer I did read unto them that which was written by the prophet ^bIsaiah; for I did ^cliken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our ^dprofit and learning.

24 Wherefore I spake unto them, saying: Hear ye the words of the prophet, ye who are a ^aremnant of the house of Israel, a ^bbranch who have been broken off; ^chear ye the words of the prophet, which were written unto all the house of Israel, and liken them unto yourselves, that ye may have hope as well as your brethren from whom ye have been broken off; for after this manner has the prophet written.

CHAPTER 20

The Lord reveals His purposes to Israel—Israel has been chosen in the furnace of affliction and is to go forth from Babylon—Compare Isaiah 48. About 588–570 B.C.

1 ^aHearken and hear this, O house of Jacob, who are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, or out of the waters of ^bbaptism, who ^cswear by the name of the Lord, and make mention of the God of Israel, yet they swear ^dnot in truth nor in righteousness.

2 Nevertheless, they call themselves of the ^aholy city, but they do ^bnot stay themselves upon the God of Israel, who is the Lord of Hosts; yea, the Lord of Hosts is his name.

3 Behold, I have declared the ^aformer things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I showed them. I did show them suddenly.

4 And I did it because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy ^aneck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass;

5 And I have even from the beginning declared to thee; before it came to pass I ^ashowed them thee; and I showed them for fear lest thou shouldst say—Mine idol hath done them, and my graven image, and my molten image hath commanded them.

6 Thou hast seen and heard all this; and will ye ^anot declare them? And that I have showed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, and thou didst not know them.

7 They are created now, and not from the beginning, even before the day when thou heardest them not they were declared unto thee, lest thou shouldst say—Behold I knew them.

8 Yea, and thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from that time thine ear was not opened; for I knew that thou wouldst deal very treacherously, and wast called a ^atransgressor from the womb.

9 Nevertheless, for my ^aname’s sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain from thee, that I cut thee not off.

10 For, behold, I have refined thee, I have chosen thee in the furnace of ^aaffliction.

11 For mine own sake, yea, for mine own sake will I do this, for I will not suffer my ^aname to be polluted, and I will ^bnot give my glory unto another.

12 Hearken unto me, O Jacob, and Israel my called, for I am he; I am the ^afirst, and I am also the last.

13 Mine hand hath also ^alaid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens. I ^bcall unto them and they stand up together.

14 All ye, assemble yourselves, and hear; who among them hath declared these things unto them? The Lord hath loved him; yea, and he will ^afulfil his word which he hath declared by them; and he will do his pleasure on ^bBabylon, and his arm shall come upon the Chaldeans.

15 Also, saith the Lord; I the Lord, yea, I have spoken; yea, I have called ^ahim to declare, I have brought him, and he shall make his way prosperous.

16 Come ye near unto me; I have not spoken in ^asecret; from the beginning, from the time that it was declared have I spoken; and the Lord God, and his ^bSpirit, hath sent me.

17 And thus saith the Lord, thy ^aRedeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I have sent him, the Lord thy God who teacheth thee to profit, who ^bleadeth thee by the way thou shouldst go, hath done it.

18 O that thou hadst hearkened to my ^acommandments—then had thy ^bpeace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea.

19 Thy ^aseed also had been as the sand; the offspring of thy bowels like the gravel thereof; his name should not have been cut off nor destroyed from before me.

20 ^aGo ye forth of Babylon, flee ye from the ^bChaldeans, with a voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter to the end of the earth; say ye: The Lord hath redeemed his ^cservant Jacob.

21 And they ^athirsted not; he led them through the deserts; he caused the waters to flow out of the ^brock for them; he clave the rock also and the waters gushed out.

22 And notwithstanding he hath done all this, and greater also, there is no ^apeace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked.

CHAPTER 21

The Messiah will be a light to the Gentiles and will free the prisoners—Israel will be gathered with power in the last days—Kings will be their nursing fathers—Compare Isaiah 49. About 588–570 B.C.

1 ^aAnd again: Hearken, O ye house of Israel, all ye that are broken off and are driven out because of the wickedness of the pastors of my people; yea, all ye that are broken off, that are scattered abroad, who are of my people, O house of Israel. Listen, O ^bisles, unto me, and hearken ye people from ^cfar; the Lord hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.

2 And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me;

3 And said unto me: Thou art my ^aservant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.

4 Then I said, I have labored in ^avain, I have spent my strength for naught and in vain; surely my judgment is with the Lord, and my work with my God.

5 And now, saith the Lord—that ^aformed me from the womb that I should be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him—though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and my God shall be my ^bstrength.

6 And he said: It is a light thing that thou shouldst be my servant to raise up the ^atribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel. I will also give thee for a ^blight to the ^cGentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the ends of the earth.

7 Thus saith the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nations abhorreth, to servant of rulers: Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the Lord that is faithful.

8 Thus saith the Lord: In an acceptable time have I heard thee, O isles of the sea, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee; and I will preserve thee, and give thee ^amy servant for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;

9 That thou mayest say to the ^aprisoners: Go forth; to them that sit in ^bdarkness: Show yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their ^cpastures shall be in all high places.

10 They shall not hunger nor thirst, neither shall the heat nor the sun smite them; for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.

11 And I will make all my mountains a way, and my ^ahighways shall be exalted.

12 And then, O house of Israel, behold, ^athese shall come from far; and lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim.

13 ^aSing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; for the feet of those who are in the east shall be established; and ^bbreak forth into singing, O mountains; for they shall be smitten no more; for the Lord hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his ^cafflicted.

14 But, behold, Zion hath said: The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me—but he will show that he hath not.

15 For can a ^awoman forget her sucking child, that she should not have ^bcompassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may ^cforget, yet will I not forget thee, O house of Israel.

16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the ^apalms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.

17 Thy children shall make haste against thy destroyers; and they that made thee ^awaste shall go forth of thee.

18 Lift up thine eyes round about and behold; all these ^agather themselves together, and they shall come to thee. And as I live, saith the Lord, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, and bind them on even as a bride.

19 For thy waste and thy desolate places, and the land of thy destruction, shall even now be too narrow by reason of the inhabitants; and they that swallowed thee up shall be far away.

20 The children whom thou shalt have, after thou hast lost the first, shall ^aagain in thine ears say: The place is too strait for me; give place to me that I may dwell.

21 Then shalt thou say in thine heart: Who hath begotten me these, seeing I have lost my children, and am ^adesolate, a captive, and removing to and fro? And who hath brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; these, where have they been?

22 Thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the ^aGentiles, and set up my ^bstandard to the people; and they shall bring thy sons in their ^carms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders.

23 And ^akings shall be thy ^bnursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers; they shall bow down to thee with their face towards the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the Lord; for they shall not be ashamed that ^cwait for me.

24 For shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the ^alawful captives delivered?

25 But thus saith the Lord, even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered; for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.

26 And I will ^afeed them that oppress thee with their own flesh; they shall be drunken with their own blood as with sweet wine; and all flesh shall ^bknow that I, the Lord, am thy ^cSavior and thy Redeemer, the ^dMighty One of Jacob.

CHAPTER 22

Israel will be scattered upon all the face of the earth—The Gentiles will nurse and nourish Israel with the gospel in the last days—Israel will be gathered and saved, and the wicked will burn as stubble—The kingdom of the devil will be destroyed, and Satan will be bound. About 588–570 B.C.

1 And now it came to pass that after I, Nephi, had read these things which were engraven upon the ^aplates of brass, my brethren came unto me and said unto me: What ^bmeaneth these things which ye have read? Behold, are they to be understood according to things which are ^cspiritual, which shall come to pass according to the spirit and not the flesh?

2 And I, Nephi, said unto them: Behold they were ^amanifest unto the prophet by the voice of the ^bSpirit; for by the Spirit are all things made known unto the ^cprophets, which shall come upon the children of men according to the flesh.

3 Wherefore, the things of which I have read are things pertaining to things both ^atemporal and spiritual; for it appears that the house of Israel, sooner or later, will be ^bscattered upon all the face of the earth, and also ^camong all nations.

4 And behold, there are many who are already lost from the knowledge of those who are at Jerusalem. Yea, the more part of all the ^atribes have been ^bled away; and they are ^cscattered to and fro upon the ^disles of the sea; and whither they are none of us knoweth, save that we know that they have been led away.

5 And since they have been led away, these things have been prophesied concerning them, and also concerning all those who shall hereafter be scattered and be confounded, because of the Holy One of Israel; for against him will they ^aharden their hearts; wherefore, they shall be scattered among all nations and shall be ^bhated of all men.

6 Nevertheless, after they shall be ^anursed by the ^bGentiles, and the Lord has lifted up his hand upon the Gentiles and set them up for a standard, and their ^cchildren have been carried in their arms, and their daughters have been carried upon their shoulders, behold these things of which are spoken are temporal; for thus are the covenants of the Lord with our fathers; and it meaneth us in the days to come, and also all our brethren who are of the house of Israel.

7 And it meaneth that the time cometh that after all the house of Israel have been scattered and confounded, that the Lord God will raise up a mighty nation among the ^aGentiles, yea, even upon the face of this land; and by them shall our seed be ^bscattered.

8 And after our seed is scattered the Lord God will proceed to do a ^amarvelous work among the ^bGentiles, which shall be of great ^cworth unto our seed; wherefore, it is likened unto their being nourished by the ^dGentiles and being carried in their arms and upon their shoulders.

9 And it shall also be of ^aworth unto the Gentiles; and not only unto the Gentiles but ^bunto all the ^chouse of Israel, unto the making known of the ^dcovenants of the Father of heaven unto Abraham, saying: In thy ^eseed shall all the kindreds of the earth be ^fblessed.

10 And I would, my brethren, that ye should know that all the kindreds of the earth cannot be blessed unless he shall make ^abare his arm in the eyes of the nations.

11 Wherefore, the Lord God will proceed to make bare his arm in the eyes of all the ^anations, in bringing about his covenants and his gospel unto those who are of the house of Israel.

12 Wherefore, he will ^abring them again out of ^bcaptivity, and they shall be ^cgathered together to the lands of their ^dinheritance; and they shall be ^ebrought out of obscurity and out of ^fdarkness; and they shall know that the ^gLord is their ^hSavior and their Redeemer, the ⁱMighty One of Israel.

13 And the blood of that great and ^aabominable church, which is the whore of all the earth, shall turn upon their own heads; for they shall ^bwar among themselves, and the sword of their ^cown hands shall fall upon their own heads, and they shall be drunken with their own blood.

14 And every ^anation which shall war against thee, O house of Israel, shall be turned one against another, and they shall ^bfall into the pit which they digged to ensnare the people of the Lord. And all that ^cfight against Zion shall be destroyed, and that great whore, who hath perverted the right ways of the Lord, yea, that great and abominable church, shall tumble to the ^ddust and great shall be the fall of it.

15 For behold, saith the prophet, the time cometh speedily that Satan shall have no more power over the hearts of the children of men; for the day soon cometh that all the proud and they who do wickedly shall be as ^astubble; and the day cometh that they must be ^bburned.

16 For the time soon cometh that the fulness of the ^awrath of God shall be poured out upon all the children of men; for he will not suffer that the wicked shall destroy the righteous.

17 Wherefore, he will ^apreserve the ^brighteous by his power, even if it so be that the fulness of his wrath must come, and the righteous be preserved, even unto the destruction of their enemies by fire. Wherefore, the righteous need not fear; for thus saith the prophet, they shall be saved, even if it so be as by fire.

18 Behold, my brethren, I say unto you, that these things must shortly come; yea, even blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke must come; and it must needs be upon the face of this earth; and it cometh unto men according to the flesh if it so be that they will harden their hearts against the Holy One of Israel.

19 For behold, the righteous shall not perish; for the time surely must come that all they who fight against Zion shall be cut off.

20 And the Lord will surely ^aprepare a way for his people, unto the fulfilling of the words of Moses, which he spake, saying: A ^bprophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass that all those who will not hear that prophet shall be ^ccut off from among the people.

21 And now I, Nephi, declare unto you, that this ^aprophet of whom Moses spake was the Holy One of Israel; wherefore, he shall execute ^bjudgment in righteousness.

22 And the righteous need not fear, for they are those who shall not be confounded. But it is the kingdom of the devil, which shall be built up among the children of men, which kingdom is established among them which are in the flesh—

23 For the time speedily shall come that all ^achurches which are built up to get gain, and all those who are built up to get power over the flesh, and those who are built up to become ^bpopular in the eyes of the world, and those who seek the lusts of the flesh and the things of the world, and to do all manner of iniquity; yea, in fine, all those who belong to the kingdom of the ^cdevil are they who need fear, and tremble, and ^dquake; they are those who must be brought low in the dust; they are those who must be ^econsumed as stubble; and this is according to the words of the prophet.

24 And the time cometh speedily that the righteous must be led up as ^acalves of the stall, and the Holy One of Israel must reign in dominion, and might, and power, and great ^bglory.

25 And he ^agathereth his children from the four quarters of the earth; and he numbereth his ^bsheep, and they know him; and there shall be one fold and one shepherd; and he shall feed his sheep, and in him they shall find ^cpasture.

26 And because of the ^arighteousness of his people, ^bSatan has no power; wherefore, he cannot be loosed for the space of ^cmany years; for he hath no power over the hearts of the people, for they dwell in righteousness, and the Holy One of Israel ^dreigneth.

27 And now behold, I, Nephi, say unto you that all these ^athings must come according to the flesh.

28 But, behold, all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people shall dwell safely in the Holy One of Israel if it so be that they will ^arepent.

29 And now I, Nephi, make an end; for I durst not speak further as yet concerning these things.

30 Wherefore, my brethren, I would that ye should consider that the things which have been written upon the ^aplates of brass are true; and they testify that a man must be obedient to the commandments of God.

31 Wherefore, ye need not suppose that I and my father are the only ones that have testified, and also taught them. Wherefore, if ye shall be obedient to the ^acommandments, and endure to the end, ye shall be saved at the last day. And thus it is. Amen.

For Further Reading

Seminary Manual

1 Nephi 20–22

Introduction

In 1 Nephi 20–21, Nephi quoted prophecies of the Old Testament prophet Isaiah, whose writings were contained on the brass plates Nephi and his brothers had been sent back to Jerusalem to obtain from Laban. Isaiah taught that even when ancient Israel did not keep their covenants, the Lord still loved them and invited them to repent and come unto Him. As you study these chapters, focus on what Isaiah taught about Jesus Christ and His desire to redeem His people.

1 Nephi 20

The Lord chastises Israel and invites them to return to Him

Can you think of a time when you did something that was not consistent with the covenants you have made or with the standards of the Church? How did you feel about your decision? Read 1 Nephi 20:1–2 (to “stay” in verse 2 means to rely upon). Who was Isaiah speaking to? Who is the “house of Jacob”?

In the Old Testament, Jacob was the son of Isaac and the grandson of Abraham. He was given the name Israel by the Lord (see Genesis 32:28). “The house of Israel” refers to his descendants and is sometimes called the “house of Jacob.” It also refers to any true believers in Jesus Christ. (See Bible Dictionary, “Israel”; see also Bible Dictionary, “Israel, Kingdom of.”) Just as in ancient times, those who make covenants (such as baptism) with God today are considered covenant members of the house of Israel.

Search 1 Nephi 20:3–4, 8, 18, and underline words or phrases that indicate the house of Israel had not been faithful to the Lord. The phrase “thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass” (1 Nephi 20:4) symbolically represents a condition the scriptures repeatedly call “stiffneckedness.” One possible explanation of this phrase is that animals such as oxen and donkeys stiffen their necks so that they cannot be guided or led by their masters. Another explanation is that people who are not willing to bow their heads are stiffnecked. Similarly, the house of Israel stiffened their necks through pride and wickedness and refused to be guided by the Lord.

To better understand these verses and liken them to our day, think about how these descriptions of the house of Israel describe the actions of some people today.

Pondering

President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency taught: “Reading, studying, and pondering are not the same. We read words and we may get ideas. We study and we may discover patterns and connections in scripture. But when we ponder, we invite revelation by the Spirit. Pondering, to me, is the thinking and the praying I do after reading and studying the scriptures carefully” (“Serve with the Spirit,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2010, 60). Studying the scriptures in a quiet place where you can ponder them will help you feel the influence of the Holy Ghost.

As you read 1 Nephi 20:9–14, 16, ponder what these verses teach about the Lord and what He is like.

1. 
   Write short answers to the following questions in your scripture study journal:
   
   1. Though the people had been rebellious in the past, how did the Lord respond to them? Why? (See 1 Nephi 20:9–11, 14.)
   2. What did the Lord want His covenant people to do? (See 1 Nephi 20:12, 16.)

From these verses we learn that the Lord invites those who have been disobedient to repent and return to Him. As you read the following statement from President Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the First Presidency, underline one or more phrases that confirm this truth:

“[Satan] wants us to feel that we are beyond forgiveness (see Revelation 12:10). Satan wants us to think that when we have sinned we have gone past a ‘point of no return’—that it is too late to change our course. …

“Christ came to save us. If we have taken a wrong course, the Atonement of Jesus Christ can give us the assurance that sin is not a point of no return. A safe return is possible if we will follow God’s plan for our salvation” (“Point of Safe Return,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2007, 99).

1 Nephi 21:1–17

Isaiah prophesies that the Messiah will not forget His covenant people

In 1 Nephi 21:1–13, Nephi recorded one of Isaiah’s prophecies about Jesus Christ, who would be the Messiah. Christ (a Greek word) and Messiah (a Hebrew word) both mean “the Anointed” or “the Chosen One.” Jesus Christ was chosen to be the Redeemer of both Israel and the Gentiles.

As you read 1 Nephi 21:6–13, mark in your scriptures those phrases that describe Jesus Christ and what He would do as the Redeemer of Israel.

As a consequence of their sins, the children of Israel had distanced themselves from the Lord and felt forgotten and forsaken by Him (see 1 Nephi 21:14). Although they felt forsaken by the Lord, search 1 Nephi 21:14–16 for evidence that the Lord loves us, and He will never forget us. You may want to mark any phrases in these verses that are meaningful to you.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained how the Savior retained the wounds of His crucifixion as evidence that He would never forget us: “Christ will not forget the children he has redeemed or the covenant he has made with them for salvation in Zion. The painful reminders of [His] watch care and covenant are the marks of the Roman nails graven upon the palms of his hands” (Christ and the New Covenant [1997], 84).

2. 
   Write short answers to the following questions in your scripture study journal:
   
   1. Why do you think people sometimes feel that the Lord has forgotten them?
   2. What do you think it means to be graven upon the palms of the Savior’s hands? How does this help you appreciate the Savior’s suffering on the cross?
   3. What experiences have helped you know that the Lord has not forgotten you?
3. 
   Imagine that you have a friend who said that he or she no longer feels worthy to attend church because of past sins. In your scripture study journal, write a short letter of encouragement to the friend, using what you have learned from 1 Nephi 20–21 and President Uchtdorf’s statement in the study section for 1 Nephi 20.

1 Nephi 21:18–22:22

Nephi explains Isaiah’s prophecy of the scattering and gathering of Israel

Nephi included one of Isaiah’s prophecies about the gathering of Israel in his record. It is found in 1 Nephi 21:18–26. In 1 Nephi 22, Nephi provided his own explanation and commentary on Isaiah’s prophecy. As you read 1 Nephi 22:4–12, look for Nephi’s explanation of how Israel will be gathered in the last days.

It may help to know that in the Book of Mormon the term “Gentiles” often refers to people who are not descendants of Judah. The phrase “a marvelous work” refers to the latter-day Restoration of the gospel. Also notice how often Nephi mentions covenants—you may want to mark these in your scriptures.

The Lord promised to restore the gospel and gather Israel in the last days. Mark in your scriptures what will happen to Satan because of the righteousness of the people as you study 1 Nephi 22:17, 19–22, 25–28.

Institute Manual

1 Nephi 19:21–24.

Likening the Scriptures unto Ourselves

• Nephi read the scriptures to his people and “did liken all scriptures unto [them]” (verse 23
  
  ). How do we liken the scriptures unto ourselves for “profit and learning”? (verse 23
  
  ). Questions like the following ones can help us profitably apply the scriptures to our lives:
  
  What significance does this particular event or principle have for me today? For example: What does the rebellion of Laman and Lemuel teach me? What can I learn about faithfulness from Nephi’s obedience?
  If I were in this particular situation or faced with this challenge or question, how would I react? What flaws or strengths would I find in my own character? Am I like Lehi’s family members who murmured in the wilderness, or am I like Nephi and Sam? Do I complain when things get difficult, or do I trust in God no matter what the circumstances?
  
  What do I learn about God and His dealings with His children from this event? As I study the lives of men and women in the scriptures, what do I learn about the things that please or displease God? Why was this particular concept, principle, or event included in the scriptures?

1 Nephi 19:21–24.

Likening the Scriptures unto Ourselves

• Nephi read the scriptures to his people and “did liken all scriptures unto [them]” (verse 23
  
  ). How do we liken the scriptures unto ourselves for “profit and learning”? (verse 23
  
  ). Questions like the following ones can help us profitably apply the scriptures to our lives:
  
  What significance does this particular event or principle have for me today? For example: What does the rebellion of Laman and Lemuel teach me? What can I learn about faithfulness from Nephi’s obedience?
  If I were in this particular situation or faced with this challenge or question, how would I react? What flaws or strengths would I find in my own character? Am I like Lehi’s family members who murmured in the wilderness, or am I like Nephi and Sam? Do I complain when things get difficult, or do I trust in God no matter what the circumstances?
  
  What do I learn about God and His dealings with His children from this event? As I study the lives of men and women in the scriptures, what do I learn about the things that please or displease God? Why was this particular concept, principle, or event included in the scriptures?

1 Nephi 20–21. Introduction to the Writings of Isaiah

• Why did Nephi include Isaiah 48–49 (1 Nephi 20–21) at this point in his record? We find an answer to this question in 1 Nephi 19:21: “And [the Lord] surely did show unto the prophets of old [including Isaiah] all things concerning them [the Jews in Jerusalem]; and also he did show unto many concerning us [the Nephites in America].”

  Overview of 1 Nephi, Chapters 20–21
  The prophets (including Isaiah) were shown “them,” referring to the Jews. The prophets (including Isaiah) were shown “us,” referring to the Nephites.
  1 Nephi 20 (Isaiah 48) is about “them”—the Jews in Jerusalem. 1 Nephi 21 (Isaiah 49) is about “us”—the Nephites in America.
  The Lord showed the Jews to Isaiah—1 Nephi 20 (Isaiah 48). The Lord showed the Nephites to Isaiah—1 Nephi 21 (Isaiah 49).

• Why did Nephi include other writings of Isaiah throughout his record (particularly 2 Nephi 12–25)?
  Nephi began the first of his Isaiah citations with these words: “Hear ye the words of the prophet, ye who are a remnant of the house of Israel, a branch who have been broken off; hear ye the words of the prophet, which were written unto all the house of Israel, and liken them unto yourselves, that ye may have hope as well as your brethren from whom ye have been broken off; for after this manner has the prophet written” (1 Nephi 19:24; italics added).
  Isaiah’s writings testify that Jesus Christ is the only true source of hope for men and women living in a fallen world. Consequently, Nephi cited hundreds of verses Isaiah wrote that testify of the Savior. One scholar noted that “of the 425 separate verses of Isaiah which are quoted in the Book of Mormon, 391 say something about the attributes or mission of Jesus Christ” (Monte S. Nyman, “Great Are the Words of Isaiah” [1980], 7).
  Moreover, Nephi recognized that Isaiah’s testimony was similar to his own, as both had seen the Lord. Nephi explained:
  “And now I, Nephi, write more of the words of Isaiah, for my soul delighteth in his words. For I will liken his words unto my people, and I will send them forth unto all my children, for he verily saw my Redeemer, even as I have seen him.
  “And my brother, Jacob, also has seen him as I have seen him; wherefore, I will send their words forth unto my children to prove unto them that my words are true. Wherefore, by the words of three, God hath said, I will establish my word. Nevertheless, God sendeth more witnesses, and he proveth all his words” (2 Nephi 11:2–3).
  The greatest validation of Isaiah’s writings came from the Savior Himself. While ministering to the Nephites, Jesus declared:
  “And now, behold, I say unto you, that ye ought to search these things. Yea, a commandment I give unto you that ye search these things diligently; for great are the words of Isaiah.
  “For surely he spake as touching all things concerning my people which are of the house of Israel; therefore it must needs be that he must speak also to the Gentiles.
  “And all things that he spake have been and shall be, even according to the words which he spake” (3 Nephi 23:1–3; italics added).
• What happened during Isaiah’s lifetime, and why are his prophecies still being fulfilled today?
  Isaiah prophesied from approximately 740–701 B.C. During his lifetime the kingdoms of Israel and Judah rose in prosperity and struggled with idolatry. The unrighteousness of the people led to spiritual weakness and political peril. In a short period of time, Israel and Judah became weak vassal states cowering under the mighty Assyrian empire. In fact, the scattering of Israel began during Isaiah’s lifetime, as many Israelites from the northern kingdom of Israel were carried away captive by the Assyrians.
  Isaiah repeatedly warned of the consequences of wickedness and foretold the calamities that would fall upon the house of Israel as a result, including the scattering of Israel from their lands of inheritance and the loss of the blessings of the covenant. He also testified repeatedly that Israel’s only hope could come from redemption through the Messiah. Many of Isaiah’s prophecies concern the coming of the Savior to the earth, both in the meridian of time and at the millennial day. Furthermore, he gave specific details concerning the latter-day gathering of Israel and the restoration of the gospel covenant.
• Why is Isaiah difficult to understand?
  As Nephi selected passages from Isaiah for his record, he knew that many readers would struggle to understand them. Even many of the people in Nephi’s day could not grasp their meaning. He mentioned three specific reasons for this difficulty:
  1. They did not know “the manner of prophesying among the Jews” (2 Nephi 25:1).
  2. They were not “filled with the spirit of prophecy” (verse 4).
  3. They were not “taught after the manner of the things of the Jews” (verse 5).
  In addition to the reasons Nephi gave, other difficulties exist for modern readers:
  1. Most of Isaiah’s writings are in poetic form. The beauty and depth of poetry in one language does not easily translate into other languages.
  2. Many of Isaiah’s prophecies are dualistic in nature. Consequently, the prophecies can be fulfilled in many circumstances at different times in history.
  3. Isaiah used extensive symbolism. Many of the objects and events he referred to were contemporary to his day and are difficult for us to understand today.
  In summary, just as Jesus taught profound truths through parables that concealed their meaning from those not prepared to understand, Isaiah spoke in a manner that required more of his listeners than casual consideration.
• What can help readers understand Isaiah’s words?
  Three basic guidelines assist anyone who wishes to understand what Isaiah wrote:
  1. Study other scripture. The scriptures themselves offer many insights into the meaning of Isaiah’s writings. The Bible Dictionary states, “The reader today has no greater written commentary and guide to understanding Isaiah than the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants” (“Isaiah,” 707). Not only do these books of scripture interpret passages of Isaiah, they contain doctrines and prophecies that shed light on Isaiah’s words. These modern scriptures fill in details that are not as evident in the Bible.

  2. 

     © 1989 Greg K. Olsen

     Seek the spirit of prophecy. As Nephi mentioned, those who were not “filled with the spirit of prophecy” (2 Nephi 25:4) in his day could not understand the meaning of Isaiah’s writings. The same is true today. Each serious student of Isaiah must seek revelation through the Holy Ghost to enlighten their mind and to help them read the words by the same Spirit in which they were written—in the testimony of Jesus Christ (see Revelation 19:10).
  3. Study diligently. Elder Bruce R. McConkie (1915–85) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles encouraged Latter-day Saints to devote themselves to serious study of Isaiah: “Read, ponder, and pray—verse by verse, thought by thought, passage by passage, chapter by chapter! As Isaiah himself asks: ‘Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine?’ His answer: ‘them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little.’ (Isa. 28:9–10.)” (“Ten Keys to Understanding Isaiah,” Ensign, Oct. 1973, 83).

1 Nephi 20:1–2. “They Call Themselves of the Holy City”

• In 1 Nephi 20:1–2, the prophet Isaiah chastised the house of Israel for claiming to follow the Lord without keeping His commandments. They felt that because they were His covenant people and lived in the holy city of Jerusalem, God would always protect them. Isaiah taught that it is not where you live but how you live that is important (see verses 18–22).

1 Nephi 20:10. “Furnace of Affliction”

• Intense heat refines metal and removes impurities. Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles observed that affliction can likewise refine and purify each of us: “Most of us experience some measure of what the scriptures call ‘the furnace of affliction’ (Isaiah 48:10; 1 Nephi 20:10). Some are submerged in service to a disadvantaged family member. Others suffer the death of a loved one or the loss or postponement of a righteous goal like marriage or childbearing. Still others struggle with personal impairments or with feelings of rejection, inadequacy, or depression. Through the justice and mercy of a loving Father in Heaven, the refinement and sanctification possible through such experiences can help us achieve what God desires us to become” (in Conference Report, Oct. 2000, 43; or Ensign, Nov. 2000, 33–34).
• Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles described the personal sanctification he experienced following three major surgeries:
  “In the past two years, I have waited upon the Lord for mortal lessons to be taught me through periods of physical pain, mental anguish, and pondering. I learned that constant, intense pain is a great consecrating purifier that humbles us and draws us closer to God’s Spirit. If we listen and obey, we will be guided by His Spirit and do His will in our daily endeavors.
  “There were times when I have asked a few direct questions in my prayers, such as, ‘What lessons dost Thou want me to learn from these experiences?’
  “As I studied the scriptures during this critical period of my life, the veil was thin and answers were given to me as they were recorded in lives of others who had gone through even more severe trials.
  “‘My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;
  “‘And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high’ (D&C 121:7–8).
  “Dark moments of depression were quickly dispelled by the light of the gospel as the Spirit brought peace and comfort with assurances that all would be well.
  “On a few occasions I told the Lord that I had surely learned the lessons to be taught and that it wouldn’t be necessary for me to endure any more suffering. Such entreaties seemed to be of no avail, for it was made clear to me that this purifying process of testing was to be endured in the Lord’s time and in the Lord’s own way” (in Conference Report, Oct. 2000, 3–4; or Ensign, Nov. 2000, 6).

1 Nephi 20:14, 20. Babylon

• As with other great ancient empires, Babylon’s ascendancy to wealth and glory was accompanied by moral decay, wickedness, and iniquity. Babylon’s corruption was so extensive that the very name became a symbol for worldliness, spiritual wickedness, and Satan’s kingdom.

  

  Paul Gustave Dore

  God decreed that the Medes should completely destroy Babylon in its wickedness (see Isaiah 13:17–22). Under the rule of Cyrus the Great, an alliance of Medes and Persians dammed the mighty Euphrates River and marched through the riverbed and under the walls of Babylon to capture the city and overthrow the empire around 538 B.C. When Isaiah spoke of Babylon, he referred to both the actual empire as well as spiritual Babylon. Isaiah foresaw the graphic destruction of the Babylon of his day as a result of the great wickedness of its people. Consequently, he used the term Babylon in his prophecies to typify the spiritual condition of the latter days and the judgment that would come upon the world at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ (see D&C 1:16).
  The Doctrine and Covenants clarifies Isaiah’s exhortation to “go ye forth of Babylon” (1 Nephi 20:20). Those who “bear the vessels of the Lord” must be clean, leaving the wickedness of the “spiritual Babylon” behind them (D&C 38:42; 133:5, 14).

1 Nephi 21:13–16. Can a Woman Forget Her Child?

• Just as it seems impossible for a woman to forget a nursing baby, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained that it would be even more impossible for the Savior to forget us: “This poetic passage provides yet another reminder of Christ’s saving role, that of protective, redeeming parent to Zion’s children. He comforts his people and shows mercy when they are afflicted, as any loving father or mother would toward a child, but, as Nephi here reminds us through Isaiah, much more than any mortal father and mother could do. Although a mother may forget her sucking child (as unlikely as any parent might think that could be), Christ will not forget the children he has redeemed or the covenant he has made with them for salvation in Zion. The painful reminders of that watch care and covenant are the marks of the Roman nails graven upon the palms of his hands, a sign to his disciples in the Old World, his Nephite congregation in the New World, and to us in latter-day Zion that he is the Savior of the world and was wounded in the house of his friends” (Christ and the New Covenant [1997], 84).

1 Nephi 21:23. Nursing Fathers and Mothers

• Nephi explained that the Lord would raise up a gentile nation to nurse scattered Israel (see 1 Nephi 22:6–9). As part of the fulfillment of this prophecy, the gospel was restored in the United States of America, a gentile nation (see D&C 109:60). The gospel is the Lord’s “standard to the people” (1 Nephi 21:22), restoring the new and everlasting covenant to the children of men (see D&C 66:2) and feeding the need of a spiritually famished Israel (see Amos 8:11–13) scattered throughout the world. The analogy of the Restoration of the gospel is that of a “feast of fat things” taken to the world to nurse them to spiritual health (see D&C 58:6–11).

1 Nephi 22:4. “The Isles of the Sea”

• A scholar explained the meaning of “the isles of the sea”: “Nephi not only refers to the isles of the sea as the location of other remnants of the house of Israel, but he also indicates that he and his people were then living upon an ‘isle of the sea’ when he quite clearly is referring to the great land mass known as the American continent. (2 Nephi 10:20–21.)” (Daniel H. Ludlow, A Companion to Your Study of the Book of Mormon [1976], 121).
• For more information on the scattering of Israel, refer to “Brief History of the Scattering of Israel” in the appendix (page 415).

1 Nephi 22:6–9. “A Mighty Nation” and “a Marvelous Work”

• The phrase “the Lord God will raise up a mighty nation among the Gentiles” (1 Nephi 22:7) refers to the United States of America in 1776. The First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States included a proclamation of freedom of religion. These amendments were ratified on December 15, 1791. The Constitution of the United States was where freedom of religion first took root in the modern world.
• In 1 Nephi 22:8, Nephi referred to “a marvelous work among the Gentiles” in the latter days. This great work includes the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the priesthood keys necessary to bring the covenants of God to “all the kindreds of the earth” (verse 9).
  The events in verse 7 had to precede those in verse 8. The world was typically full of countries with forced state religions. For the gospel to be restored, it required a country that both legally professed and practiced freedom of religion. Joseph Smith was born in December 1805, just 14 years after the ratification of the amendments to the Constitution.

1 Nephi 22:6–12. The Gathering of Israel

• For more information on the gathering of Israel, refer to “The Gathering of Israel” in the appendix (page 416).

1 Nephi 22:10–12. “Make Bare His Arm”

• Nephi spoke of God making “bare his arm in the eyes of all the nations” (1 Nephi 22:11). Isaiah used a similar phrase (Isaiah 52:10). An arm is a symbol of power. The metaphor that God will make “bare his arm” means that God will show his power to the entire world.
  1 Nephi 22:13–17

  What is one reason Satan’s host will not prevail over the people of God? What else will keep the righteous from being overpowered?

1 Nephi 22:17, 22. “The Righteous Need Not Fear”

• While Nephi recorded that “the righteous need not fear” (1 Nephi 22:17, 22) because the Lord’s protective hand will be over them during the calamities of the last days, the wicked have no promise of protection from these events. Elder Bruce R. McConkie taught: “We do not say that all of the Saints will be spared and saved from the coming day of desolation. But we do say there is no promise of safety and no promise of security except for those who love the Lord and who are seeking to do all that he commands” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1979, 133; or Ensign, May 1979, 93).

1 Nephi 22:24. “Calves of the Stall”

• President Joseph Fielding Smith (1876–1972) taught that children who will be raised during the Millennium “shall grow up ‘as calves of the stall’ unto righteousness, that is, without sin or the temptations which are so prevalent today” (The Way to Perfection [1970], 299).
• Contemplate the difference between a calf that is raised out on the range or in the mountains and one that is raised in a barn. The calf on the range is subject to all the forces of nature: inclement weather, predatory animals, and occasional scarcity of food and water. On the other hand, the calf raised in the barn or in a stall is protected from poor weather and predatory animals. Likewise, food and water are regularly provided. Nephi taught that “the time cometh speedily that the righteous must be led up as calves of the stall” (1 Nephi 22:24).
  One commentator said: “Those who are left after the judgment of the Second Coming will be able to raise up their children as calves are raised in a stall. The calf is protected from the elements, and his environment is controlled (Malachi 4:2; 1 Nephi 22:24). The children in the Millennium will similarly ‘grow up without sin unto salvation’ (D&C 45:58). The telestial element will be removed, and with Satan being bound (Revelation 20:1–3; 1 Nephi 22:26; D&C 101:28), the environment will be more controlled” (Monte S. Nyman and Farres H. Nyman, The Words of the Twelve Prophets: Messages to the Latter-day Saints [1990], 145).

1 Nephi 22:26. How Will Satan Be Bound?

• Nephi gave a very clear definition in scripture of how Satan is to be bound during the Millennium. Elder Bruce R. McConkie wrote the following explanation concerning this important verse:
  “What does it mean to bind Satan? How is he bound? Our revelation says: ‘And in that day Satan shall not have power to tempt any man.’ (D&C 101:28.) Does this mean that power is withdrawn from Satan so that he can no longer entice men to do evil? Or does it mean that men no longer succumb to his enticements because their hearts are so set on righteousness that they refuse to forsake that which is good to follow him who is evil? Clearly it means the latter. Satan was not bound in heaven, in the very presence of God, in the sense that he was denied the right and power to preach false doctrine and to invite men to walk away from that God whose children they were; nay, in this sense, he could not have been bound in heaven, for even he must have his agency.
  “How, then, will Satan be bound during the Millennium? It will be by the righteousness of the people” (The Millennial Messiah [1982], 668).

Points to Ponder

• Nephi explained in 1 Nephi 19:18 that he wrote to “persuade” his people to “remember the Lord their Redeemer.” How can remembering Nephi’s reason for writing help you in your personal study of the scriptures?
• Ponder the meaning of the phrase in 1 Nephi 21:16 that the Savior has “graven thee upon the palms of [His] hands.” How can this give you confidence that the Lord will always remember you?

Suggested Assignments

• Nephi cited the prophecies of Zenock, Neum, and Zenos (see 1 Nephi 19:10). These prophets lived in Old Testament times, but their prophecies are not found in the Bible. Using the scripture index or the Guide to the Scriptures as a resource, list several other prophecies that Zenock and Zenos made. What particular importance did their prophecies have to the Nephites? (see 3 Nephi 10:16). Why are they important to you?
• Answer the first question from each paragraph in the commentary for 1 Nephi 19:21–24
  
  (page 43).
• In the meridian of time, Jesus “was judged to be a thing of naught” (1 Nephi 19:7, 9). Identify ways that the world today still judges Jesus “to be a thing of naught.” Write a paragraph outlining ways you can combat these worldly influences and develop your testimony of the Savior.