1 Nephi 15

1 Nephi 15

1 Nephi 15: 1-4

brothers disputing...........................................they are not united in their understanding of Lehi's dream
a man should enquire....................................why dispute.  Man has prayer and can come to a divine understanding
hardness of hearts.........................................did not listen to the commandment to pray and seek
what would come to pass.................................Nephi disturbed.  He knows his brother's descendants will survive, but not his own
beheld their fall...............................................the vision included the demise of the Nephites

1 Nephi 15: 5-12

afflictions................................................Nephi full of grief.  Unable to deal with his emotions
we cannot understand.......................................the acknowledge an inability
Have ye?..........................................................Nephi confronts them directly and bluntly
Lord maketh not..............................................they claim no direct communication with God
commandments-perish..........................................to find salvation in the Lord a man must follow God
process..............................................................they have been taught to follow prayerful searches
parable of the olive...............................................a parable taught to the family of Lehi, to guide them

Nephi confronts his brothers who have not followed the commandment to pray about the teachings of Lehi.  He believes, but they do not.  They claim that they cannot receive revelation

1 Nephi 15: 13-18

overview................................................Nephi briefly summarizes Lehi's sermon
come to knowledge......................................a day of conversion will fall on all the descendants of Lehi
rock of salvation............................................these people will accept Christ, the Messiah
grafted in...............................................although a lost tribe, these people will become part of the House of Israel
scattered...............................................Lehi told the family that their children would be smitten and scattered by the Gentiles
whole house of Israel...............................the curse of apostasy would affect the whole House of Israel,  the opportunity will come to repent and restore itself to God

After a period of scattering and destruction after the coming of the Gentiles, the House of Lehi would become again the House of Israel, after accepting Christ.

1 Nephi 15: 19-29

restoration of the Jews..............................he also let them know about the Jews themselves
words of Isaiah.......................................Nephi knows and teaches the works of Isaiah
what meaneth..............................................They still don't get it.  Nephi becomes the teacher
tree................................................the tree of life
rod of iron...........................................word of God
hold fast............................................use it to hold onto and to help keep on the path
give heed and exhort...........................Nephi teaches his brothers and gives them a challenge
river of water....................................filth of the world, Satan, a destructive force that takes men backwards
gulf....................................................the filth keeps the imprudent from attaining to the tree of life
hell for the wicked............................symbolic separation from things that lead to Eternal Life

The brothers become students to Nephi, instead of seeking the knowledge themselves.  Nephi explains the items in Lehi's dream

1 Nephi 15: 30-

justice of God.................................there are divine laws that a man must listen to
temporal and spiritual..........................the law of God pertains both to the mortal and immortal aspects of life
probation........................................we are responsible for how we behave in life
die in wickedness.....................................people can lose their futures by dying spiritually
kingdom of God...................................not filthy, pure
place prepared.......................................the ones who fail will go somewhere.  Separated.
devil...................................................Satan is the author of the wickedness that destroys.
Tree of Life..................................the biggest and most important gift

God has firm rules to return to him.  The dream teaches people how to get to the destination.  It involves seeking the Tree of Life by following the path and holding firm to the Iron Rod.  Those who move away fall into the filth and can die spiritually.  This has everlasting consequences

Chapter 15

This chapter gives important keys for the understanding of the teachings of Lehi.  It contrasts with the beliefs of Nephi's brothers who find spiritually impossible.  Prayer is essential for understanding, and following the commandments is essential to obtain Eternal Life.