1 Nephi 1: 1-3
I, Nephi...............personal narrative
goodly parents...............many goods, wealthy............possible double entendre
highly favored.................realizes outstanding relationship with God
mysteries of God............knows how sacred things work
therefore taught................educated according to status and family
make a record..............composing a personal history
Tightly written preface to his subsequent writings
1 Nephi 1: 4-5
It came to pass...................most obvious redundancy of the Book of Mormon
......................Point starter, marks the beginning of a narrative
first year of Zedekiah.............dates beginning around 600BC
prophets prophesying................a pivotal time period, prophets sent to warn, encourage
father prayed................Lehi a prophet, affected by the events, looks for divine guidance
Gives context for the event that sets the highlights for Nephi's personal history
1Nephi 1: 6-8
pillar of fire...........................obvious presence of divine visitation
did tremble and quake.....................message overwhelming
overcome by the spirit....................so overcome, requires additional rest and understanding
...................shakes his world view
thought he saw...............not quite willing to call it a transfiguration, but will call it divine message
saw the heavens open..............message far beyond his initial expecatation
Lehi has a spiritual moment that will change him forever.
1 Nephi 1: 9-11
1 leader....................the divine messenger acting in authority
12 others........................priesthood number, will involve priesthood duties
gave him a book.....................the will of heaven. Lehi to heed.
1Nephi 1: 12-13
filled with Spirit.....................Lehi learns more than is written through divine communication, pure knowledge
wo wo..................serious warning for the people of Jerusalem (the nation ruled from Jerusalem)
destroyed, perish by sword, enslavement....................a portent of swift and sudden national crisis
The duty of Lehi deals with a serious upcoming event. God's intervention in the nation will affect all, Lehi included.
1 Nephi 1: 14-18
those who come unto thee...............Those whom God blesses have the advantage of God's help in times of trouble
whole heart was filled..................Lehi's reaction. Both frightening and encouraging.
do not make a full account..................Nephi's left changed by the event. The moment belonged to his father
...............Nephi will start here, but he will now move to his own narrative
abridgement................Lehi speaks for himself. Nephi will shorten and summarize when it comes to his own account
he went forth.................Lehi followed the instructions................becomes a tireless prophet to the people
Nephi explains why he follows his father's narrative only to a point. It appears that he gets so distracted by his father's story, that he fears he will lose his own, which he has a higher obligation to share, since his father has already written his own story.
1 Nephi 1: 19-20
did mock him................wrong reaction of the people.....mock.....make it a comedy
coming of Messiah................speaks with authority............teaches the message of God's son
they were angry................people take a very contrary stance on Lehi's message, probaby against Messianic teaching
sought his life......................people plan to remove Lehi as an enemy of the people. He is basically shunned
tender mercies...................the spiritually adept receive meaningful help. These divine interventions save and uphold the faithful
power of deliverance....................Such an escape from trouble only possible with divine intervention
For Lehi to survive he must be removed from the system that is threatening him. Nephi makes it clear that the removal is done with God's intervention
1 Nephi 1-- An introduction to the writings of Nephi. He establishes the intense pressures that begin the narratives that will shape his own life. Sometimes these things lead men to make choices that will eventually affect all those around them.
