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.

What Lehi Knew About The Jews- 1 Nephi 9-10

We interrupt this dream to interject some personal commentary.  That is exactly what Chapter 9 of 1 Nephi is.  It is the personal touch Nephi adds to his record to make sure we understand that it is HIS record, and that he was commanded to make the account according to HIS perspective.  I know that I keep hammering that idea home, but it is a very important one to understand.  Just like Mormon interjects his own personal commentary in the parts of The Book of Mormon he abridged, in chapter 9 Nephi has done the same.  

Then beginning in Chapter 10, as Nephi continues recording what his father saw in his vision, Nephi makes sure we understand that  the need for relating the dream to us  is because it effects the details of his own account which is to follow.  

Part of Lehi’s visionary history that is often overlooked is the fact that he probably saw everything from the “beginning to the end” concerning his posterity, much like the other prophets of old which we study in the scriptures.  This is subtly told to us as through Nephi’s account of his father’s teachings.  He begins by giving Lehi’s account of what will happen to the Jews who were left behind in Jerusalem. 

Lehi told them that the Jews would be scattered, and then gathered again.

1 Nephi 10:3 That after they should be destroyed, even that great city Jerusalem, and many be carried away captive into Babylon, according to the own due time of the Lord, they should return again, yea, even be brought back out of captivity; and after they should be brought back out of captivity they should possess again the land of their inheritance.

Lehi explained that the Messiah would come, and when.

4 Yea, even six hundred years from the time that my father left Jerusalem, a prophet would the Lord God raise up among the Jews—even a Messiah, or, in other words, a Savior of the world.

Lehi explained the NEED for the Messiah, which was not truly understood by the people of Jerusalem.

6 Wherefore, all mankind were in a lost and in a fallen state, and ever would be save they should rely on this Redeemer.

Lehi prophesied about John the Baptist and his ministry. (vs. 7-10)

Lehi explained that the Jews would not understand the gospel which the Messiah would preach and because of their unbelief they would kill the Messiah. (vs. 11)

Lehi then taught that the Messiah would rise from the dead, at which time he would manifest himself to the Gentiles by the Holy Ghost. (vs.11)

Lehi then quite possibly related the “Allegory of the Olive Tree”, which was recorded by the prophet Zenos, to his sons in an attempt to help them understand their place in all that was happening.  The language is too similar to ignore. (vs. 12-15) I believe he wanted them to understand the reason that they were brought to this “land of promise” was so that they could help the House of Israel not only come to a knowledge of the Redeemer, but to help them understand their personal need for one. He wanted them to know what role their posterity would play as the “righteous branch” or the remnant that would save the world in the last days.  

Did they all fully understand exactly what Lehi was trying to teach to them about their calling in the Lord’s work?  Do we understand what ours is today? We have been given the same information as they were given through this account which was recorded by Nephi.  What must we do to understand? Is it any different for us then it was for them?  

I love Nephi because he knew the process of enlightenment is the same for everybody. He works very hard to help us come to understand our “calling” in the same way he came to understand his.  

As we continue to study The Book of Mormon we need to be aware of what Nephi is really trying to help us understand, the process of knowing. 

A System by Which Men Learn the Mysteries of Heaven and are Saved- Denver Snuffer

I debated on when I would post this information...I thought it would be a good follow up in understanding the process Nephi shares with us about receiving the Second Comforter and the sealing power from Him, however, I believe it might be better to post it first so that you might know what to look for as we study this process. Consequently, I decided to insert this post in the middle of our study of Nephi so that we can be aware of what is about to come. Make sure you apply this information to the recorded experiences that Nephi gives us.

One of my favorite authors is Denver Snuffer.

Using Alma 12: 28-30 as his reference, he discussed the process of knowing the mysteries of God in his Blog.

Alma 12:28 And after God had appointed that these things should come unto man, behold, then he saw that it was expedient that man should know concerning the things whereof he had appointed unto them;

29 Therefore he sent angels to converse with them, who caused men to behold of his glory.

30 And they began from that time forth to call on his name; therefore God conversed with men, and made known unto them the plan of redemption, which had been prepared from the foundation of the world; and this he made known unto them according to their faith and repentance and their holy works.

Snuffer states:

There is a system by which men learn the mysteries of heaven and are saved. That system is set out in Alma 12: 29-30:

-First, angels are sent to prepare men/women.

-Second, they are allowed to behold the Lord's glory.

-Then they converse with the Lord, at which point they are taught the things which have been prepared from the foundation of the earth for their salvation.
-All of which is driven by the man/woman's faith, repentance and holy works.

I believe it is important to understand this system as we study the life of Nephi, as he records his experiences with the Lord. His experiences seem to fit this system perfectly.

See if you can see evidence of this “system” as Nephi shares his spiritual progression with us.

Mothers, Called and Elected

Before the world was created, in Heavenly councils, the pattern was set and the role of women was prescribed. Called by God, to be wives and mothers in Zion, the blessing of exaltation was to be the reward, only predicated on the faithfulness to that calling. Each woman who is on this earth today chose, or elected, to follow this plan and were rewarded with the tools to make it possible, a body of flesh and blood.

As a woman, ours is the grand tradition of Eve, the mother of all living, the one who understood that she had a calling to fulfill and elected, by choice, to do so. Her choice made it possible that “man might be” so that there would be a fullness of joy.

Ours is the grand tradition of Sarah, Rebekah, and Rachel, without whom there would have been no magnificent patriarchal promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, which bless all of us today.

Ours is the grand tradition of the mothers of the 2,000 Stripling Warriors from the Book of Mormon, who taught their sons to have great faith.

Ours is the grand tradition of Mary, chosen and foreordained from before this world was, to conceive, carry, and bear the Son of God Himself. We have been called and have elected to help with the divine work of the Lord in “bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.”

Elder Matthew Cowley taught, “Men have to have something given to them in mortality to make them saviors of men, but not mothers, not women. They are born with an inherent right, an inherent authority, to be saviors of human souls… and the regenerating force in the lives of God’s children.”

President Gordon B. Hinckley stated, “God planted within women something divine”. That something is the gift and the gifts of motherhood.

This eternal calling extends far beyond this life, but is one from which no official release is given. Obedience to the plan that the Lord has set forth in His gospel instruction of discipleship as one who “receiveth His law and does it” makes the promises of Eternal Life sure. Mothers in Zion therefore have received their calling, have elected to fulfill it, and by obedience have made the blessings or promises for doing so sure.

It is such a privilege to be a Mother in Zion.

The picture is of my dear friend Annie, she is to me, a beautiful example of a woman who understands her role as a wife and mother. Thank you Annie for the great example you are for me.