The Scattering of Nephi's People- 1 Nephi 12

When the vision Lehi had was also revealed to Nephi, by his own request from the Lord, he was shown everything from the “beginning to the end” and specifically what his part in this grand scheme was to be, or what he was elected to do.  In other words, he was shown that “his calling and election” was to “keep the record”.  This is very important for us to understand so that we can also see that this “calling” was faithfully fulfilled, making his calling and election sure.  

The vision itself was recorded over the course of four chapters beginning with Chapter 11 in the first book of Nephi.  In Chapter 11 we are shown the “Condescension of God” by viewing the life of the Savior, Jesus Christ.  We are taught of His ministry among the inhabitants of the “Old World” or Israel, and how they would reject Him, and by so doing, become a lost and scattered people.   I can only imagine the pain that this vision would cause Nephi, as he saw the future destruction of his ancestors, brought about because of their pride and worldly aspirations, as they fought against the Lamb and His twelve apostles.  I believe it was necessary to show Nephi the dismal state that they would be in so that he would recognize the importance of the work he was given to do, to make sure the record  he was called to keep actually would be kept. 

In chapter 12 Nephi is shown further destruction, only this time it was concerning his direct line, or “seed”, which would inhabit the “land of promise”, or the America’s.  His vision includes the rapid rise of his people, in both number and greatness, as well as the growth of the “seed of his brethren” too.  He sees conflict and contention between the two groups in the form of wars and great “slaughters with the sword”, culminating in a great “mist of darkness” with natural disasters occurring in the land.  This view, however, was only a precursor to the event that was most central for his posterity, that of the coming of the resurrected Christ to the America’s. 

Nephi is also given a view of the organization of The Church of Jesus Christ during the time of the Savior’s visit to his posterity, and the calling of the twelve disciples who would lead that Church. Subtly, we are also reminded by the angels words the order of Christ’s kingdom and of the fact that Nephi is part of the remnant of the house of Israel.

1 Nephi 12:9And he said unto me: Thou rememberest the twelve apostles of the Lamb? Behold they are they who shall judge the twelve tribes of Israel; wherefore, the twelve ministers of thy seed shall be judged of them; for ye are of the house of Israel.

This reminder is ever present in the pages of The Book of Mormon so that we will be aware of the promises given to “the remnant” and the mission they will fulfill.  

Also contained in the verses of Chapter 12 are the definitions of some of the symbols that Lehi told his family about concerning the vision he saw. 

Mist of darkness:

1 Nephi 12:17And the mists of darkness are the temptations of the devil, which blindeth the eyes, and hardeneth the hearts of the children of men, and leadeth them away into broad roads, that they perish and are lost. 

Fountain of filthy water, or river of filthy water:

1 Nephi 12:16And the angel spake unto me, saying: Behold the fountain of filthy water which thy father saw; yea, even the river of which he spake; and the depths thereof are the depths of hell.

Large and spacious building:

1 Nephi 12:18And the large and spacious building, which thy father saw, is vain imaginations and the pride of the children of men. And a great and a terrible gulf divideth them; yea, even the word of the justice of the Eternal God, and the Messiah who is the Lamb of God, of whom the Holy Ghost beareth record, from the beginning of the world until this time, and from this time henceforth and forever.

Finally Nephi sees the years following the appearance of the Savior, starting with four generations of love and peace, and the unfortunate evolutionary process of their downfall, resulting in a “dark, and loathsome, and a filthy people.”

In both Chapter 11, where Nephi sees his ancestry scattered, and Chapter 12, where he sees his posterity scattered as well, he is given a view of the awful state of his people and their need to be “gathered” and taught correct principles.   

Again, I believe it was important for him to be shown this dismal predicament, for him to understand the great importance of his calling he will be given to “keep the record”. His record would ultimately “show unto the remnant of the house of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever—And also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations—“(as found in the title page of The Book of Mormon itself).

The Book of Mormon will be the great gathering tool needed to fulfill the promise of God to Adam.  It is part of the great plan of happiness, and Nephi has a very important role to play in that plan.

Our Heavenly Father Is In Charge

Isn’t it marvelous that our Heavenly Father is in charge?

There are times when we do not understand things as they unfold around us, but just knowing He does gives me peace and comfort in times of turmoil and distress.

There are so many evidences in the scriptures that show that our Heavenly Father has a plan for us, and that His plan unfolds line upon line, right before our eyes. In the process of the restoration of His Church upon this earth, He laid out many things so beautifully years before Joseph Smith even knew what He had in mind.

Perhaps I might give just two examples of what I mean:

Prior to the organization of the Church on April 6, 1830 Joseph Smith received a revelation that is known today as Section 20 of the Doctrine and Covenants. In this revelation the Lord outlined the organization and government of the Church itself. I like to refer to Section 20 as the “Blueprint” for Section 19.

In Section 20 the Lord gave instruction regarding a group of men known as the “high council”:

Section 20: 65 No person is to be ordained to any office in this church, where there is a regularly organized branch of the same, without the vote of that church;

66 But the presiding elders, traveling bishops, high councilors, high priests, and elders, may have the privilege of ordaining, where there is no branch of the church that a vote may be called.

67 Every president of the high priesthood (or presiding elder), bishop, high councilor, and high priest, is to be ordained by the direction of a high council or general conference.

It is interesting to me that the instruction on the organization of the High Council is not received until February, 1834, in Section 102 of the Doctrine and Covenants, nearly four years after the mention of them in Section 20.

Another example of this can be seen in the calling and organization of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

Even before the Melchizedek Priesthood was restored, a revelation was received by Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery giving specific instruction about the Twelve Apostles and the manner that they should be called. This instruction is given in Section 18 in June of 1829:

Section 18:26 And now, behold, there are others who are called to declare my gospel, both unto Gentile and unto Jew;

27 Yea, even twelve; and the Twelve shall be my disciples, and they shall take upon them my name; and the Twelve are they who shall desire to take upon them my name with full purpose of heart.

28 And if they desire to take upon them my name with full purpose of heart, they are called to go into all the world to preach my gospel unto every creature.

Section 18:37 And now, behold, I give unto you, Oliver Cowdery, and also unto David Whitmer, that you shall search out the Twelve, who shall have the desires of which I have spoken;

38 And by their desires and their works you shall know them.

39 And when you have found them you shall show these things unto them.

40 And you shall fall down and worship the Father in my name.

It was not until February 14, 1835 that the fullness of this instruction was realized. On that day a meeting was called by Joseph Smith for all the brethren who were part of Zion’s Camp, and other brethren and sisters who were asked to attend. According to the account in History of the Church, the prophet had seen in vision, and by the Holy Spirit, the order of the Church organization. It states, “It was doubtless in this vision also that the Prophet saw the manner in which the Twelve should be chosen.”

The account given of choosing of the Twelve apostles is as follows:

“President Joseph Smith, Jun., after making many remarks on the subject of choosing the Twelve, wanted an expression from the brethren if they would be satisfied to have the Spirit of the Lord dictate in the choice of the Elders to be Apostles; whereupon all the Elders present expressed their anxious desire to have it so.”

A hymn was sung, President Hyrum Smith prayed, and the meeting was dismissed for one hour.

When they returned the meeting continued:

“President Joseph Smith, Jun., said that the first business of the meeting was, for the Three Witnesses of the Book of Mormon to pray each one, and then proceed to choose twelve men from the Church, as Apostles, to go to all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people.

The Three Witnesses, viz., Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris, united in prayer.

These Three Witnesses were then blessed by the laying on of the hands of the Presidency.

The Witnesses then, according to a former commandment, proceeded to make choice of the Twelve”

(In Section 18 only two of the three witnesses were mentioned by name for this sacred job. It is mentioned that at the time of the revelation Martin Harris was wavering in his commitment to the Lord by hesitating to dispose of his land to meet the obligations that were entered into with the printer who was contracted to print the Book of Mormon. Thankfully Harris repented and was found worthy of continued fellowship in the Church, and given this sacred privilege.)

On March 28, 1835, these Twelve Apostles which were spoken of as early as 1829 received instruction which is known as Section 107. It is the same instruction the Twelve Apostles follow today.

The Lord had a plan for His Church and the organization of it. He outlined it, and followed through with that plan. The Church leaders were given instruction for the Church which was pertinent to it years before the instruction was actually to be implemented.

The Lord has a plan for His children too. I believe we too are given information, sometimes years before we may need it, to help us to prepare, to help us follow that plan.

Thank goodness our Heavenly Father is in charge!