2 Nephi 32

2 Nephi 32;  2 Nephi 33

2 Nephi 32: 1-7

what to do........................................................question after one accepts the Savior
Speak like angel.................................................the power of the Holy Ghost
ye ask not.......................................................we are expected to pray and ask for guidance
Holy Ghost.........................................................will show each of us the way
no more doctrine..................................................The Savior himself will add to His doctrine
unbelief.............................................................the prophet must be silent.  Men not ready for men.

The Lord wants us to ask what to do.  Failure to ask is what limits men, and it is a primary symptom of unbelief and inability to believe.

2 Nephi 32: 8-9

pray...................................................................the Lord tells us to pray.  Satan says don't.
pray in Christ's Name........................................He will consecrate our prayers.

Prayer is the one thing we can do to elevate ourselves in God's eyes.

2 Nephi 33: 1-5

Holy Ghost carries..................................................the manner in which the voice of God penetrates
harden hearts.........................................................refusal to allow the Spirit speak to us
cry by faith..........................................................prophet prays for his people and for us
persuadeth...............................................................the Holy Ghost leads us to do good
anger..................................................................a sign of being under influence of devil

The Holy Ghost works with the willing.  The refusal to soften our hearts places us under the anger of the devil

2 Nephi 33: 6-15

charity.................................................................deep love, willing to sacrifice
the Jew..................................................................compassion for his relatives in the Old World
Gentiles.............................................................recipients of the Lord's invitation
believe in Christ..................................................he will lead men to the truth, if done in faith
words of Christ....................................................the Book of Mormon given with Holy Ghost
many saved.............................................................a testimony that many will listen to the words
voice from dust......................................................understands the role of the Book in the future
condemn..............................................................for those who refuse to accept the truth
seal.................................................................the Lord has given Nephi the power to seal

The testimony of Nephi at the end of the book.  He tells us to pray, to open our hearts, and to believe.

These two chapters, although short, contain Nephi's final testimony and blessing on the people who read the Book of Mormon and accept its message of Christ.

1 Nephi 20

1 Nephi 20

1 Nephi 20: 1-6

Isaiah Chapter 48

waters of Judah...............................................early reference to baptism in Old Testament?
swear not in truth...........................................People are members of the religion in name only, break promises
of the Holy City...............................................claim to belong to the Kingdom of God
Lord of Hosts....................................................In a kingdom, the people follow the king
thou art obstinate.............................................a difficult people to motivate and to lead
I showed them thee.....................................a teacher of the gospel
Mine idol...........................................................mocks the belief systems that are not based on divine leadership
Heard and declare...................................................those who hear the gospel should teach it to others

Isaiah addresses the people, explaining how he attempting to motivate the people and how he would have them follow the Lord instead of other ways that distract from righteousness

1Nephi 20: 7-11

idols do not create...............................................an idol of any kind is inadequate for leadership and guidance
knew of treachery...............................................the prophet even understands the nature of the luke-warm follower
cut thee not off....................................................patiently works with the people, even when in violation
furnace of affliction..............................................removal of the spirit leaves the person in trouble
 .......................................................the affliction could be a trial and test.
name not polluted............................................the Lord will teach.  The message is sacred.

There is a grave danger of replacing God with some distraction.  These other ways provide not guidance or help in the troubles of life.

1 Nephi 20: 12-18

Israel my called...............................................the Lord begins his message to those who have listened
Mine hand.......................................................the Lord is the Creator of the earth, complete authority
he sends the message.....................................the Lord decrees sovereignty over all nations.
called him to declare..........................................pertains to all who speak in his name.  Especially Christ
not in secret.................................................nothing new in this message
I sent him..................................................the servant of God is on a mission from God.  Listen.
peace as a river...........................................the promise of internal peace.  God strengthens the man

The authority of Christ and the prophets is to act as direct messengers from God.  He sends and he teaches. If we listen, he will give us peace.

1 Nephi 20: 19-22

seed as the sand...........................................we have another challenge.  Raising children in the way.
go forth of.....................................................a message to keep a distance from the religions of others
Lord has redeemed his servant...............................the favor of God goes to the servants who listen to him
waters.............................................................the live of the gospel goes out to the true children
no peace for the wicked....................................those who do not receive the Spirit do not have internal peace

The Lord promises help in raising children.  He also warns about distractions.

1 Nephi 20

This resubmission of Isaiah lets us today know that we operate under the same principles.  We are to follow the Lord in life, receive his guidance, and enjoy his peace.

1 Nephi 8

1 Nephi 8

1 Nephi 8: 1-4

gather seeds......................................preparations made for their long journey
dreamed a dream, vision............................Hebraism, a dreamer or visionary working within his calling
Nephi and Sam and children........................Lehi receives comfort about two of his sons
Laman and Lemuel................................very distraught over the message of the other 2 sons
dark and dreary....................................the symbolism surrounding the families of Laman and Lemuel

The prophet Lehi receives a message concerning the future spiritual welfare of his family

1 Nephi 8: 5-18

saw a man................................................in the dream, Lehi visited by angel messenger
bade me follow...........................................instruction to pay attention, to follow
journey in darkness...................................sees a lot of unsettling images
prays for delivery........................................the prophet looks for promising imagery.  Disturbed
sees a field.....................................................a wide open are,  immediate answer
tree and fruit...............................................Lehi sees a much different image,  something desirable
did partake............................................Lehi enjoying the better future, very happy with it
concern for family.....................................symbolically Lehi receives the promise.  Wants it for his family
cast eyes..............................................tries to locate his family.  Makes efforts to understand family
tree and river...........................................more symbolism, not explained
sees wife, 2 sons............................................Lehi sees a division within his family
call to join.............................................Lehi invites his family to enjoy the fruit
they do...................................................Indicates the believing side of his family
Laman, Lemuel, would not come.........................different response from the other children

In Lehi's vision, he receives spiritual confirmation and warning about the state and future of his family.  This manifestation both pleases him and deeply disturbs him.  Some of his family receives Eternal life, but some fail and don't desire it.

Nephi 8: 19-28

rod of iron......................................a "highway" to the fruit
straignt and narrow way that leads......................................the correct use of the rod leads men to eternal life.
numberless concourse...........................the vision is enlarged.  The key components apply to all people
did come forward..................................likewise, all men come forward and receive the test
mist of darkness........................................the common experience, men manuever the darkness
some cling to the end.................................many people cling to the path and arrive to the correct place
partake and look around...................................many enjoy, they look around,  why?  different answers
spacious building........................................symbolizes the reaction of many men to contrast with those who arrive
were ashamed........................................wrong response for someone who receives the fruit,  apostasy
filled with people, fake behavior.............................the building is not filled with genuine believers.  facades
fell away..............................................those who join this group are lost.  Deluded with their achievements.

Many people are tricked and fooled by the temptations of wealth and related "successes."  If not grounded in the gospel of Christ, they become all involved in the floating building and end up falling from the protections of the spirit.

1 Nephi 8: 29-34

multitudes................................................those who find the gospel are many
many go to the building......................................these two divisions are very large, perhaps the 2 biggest categories.
Many drowned.....................................some do not acheieve arrival in either category
did point and sorned.................................Many of those who get to the building are very accusatory and persuasive
those who heeded.....................................those who follow the way to the great building are lost

Those who choose the worldly goal are the most easily lost.  People move that direction and become lost before they even arrive.  Others arrive, and become deluded at that point.  They stand in stark contrast to those who choose and remain faithful to the gospel

1 Nephi 8: 35-38

Laman and Lemuel.......................................do not choose the fruit,  Responses upset Lehi
fears for them............................................Lehi uses the dream to warn his sons.  Shares his dream vision
exhorts with feeling......................................so disturbed that he takes tremendous care to teach them

Lehi centers on those who need the teaching most.  He attempts to change the warnings that seem to come from his vision.  The future of Laman and Lemuel are really disturbing to their father

1 Nephi 8

Nephi learns in a dream how the choices made by men and women as they encounter the choices of life will alter their futures.  If men choose the good and stay in that way they arrive at the fruit of eternal life.  If they hearken to the other voices and promises, it pulls them from the right way and compromise their futures.  Lehi is particularly disturbed by the prophetic message of his own family.  As a prophet he uses the message immediately to teach his family.

1 Nephi 4

1 Nephi 4

1 Nephi 4:  1-3

Lord is mightier......................................reminder of the omnipotence and helpfulness of God
strong like Moses............................remember the narratives,  trust them
angel hath spoken.........................recipients of an obvious spiritual manifestation, trust it
Lord about to deliver..............................call to action

To gain strength and faith for difficult situations, we need to "remember."

1 Nephi 4: 4-7

wroth, murmur.........................................the brothers complain and act in anger
hide themselves....................................if they won't help, hide them safely
I crept.............................................he has fear, but he goes
led by Spirit, not knowing...................................sometimes it's more important to show up
I went forth...............................................He did what he said he would do
found a man........................................He is led directly where he should go

The Spirit requires action.  By starting the journey, he is led, directly to the place he needed to go.  He also safely hid his less courageous brothers.

1 Nephi 4: 8-13

found Laban...............................................he recognizes the very person he needed
the sword........................................reveals Laban as a powerful military leader at his time
constrained by the spirit.......................interesting word. Nephi is required to act.  Spiritual obligation
I shrunk...........................................take courage, even when the commandment goes against core values
the Lord has delivered....................................when the Lord prepares, the servant obeys
sought thy own life....................................he tried to kill you
he would not follow commandment...............................the man has broken faith with God
taken property...........................................he is a thief
Slay him...................................................a blunt order from the Spirit.
better for one than a nation.....................................Justified death in terms of the man's treachery and evil

This section has long led to academic discussions about the ethics and appropriateness of Nephi's killing of Laban.  At least from the narrative, the killing is perfectly legal in a spiritual sense.  The Spirit has justified it.  Like the offering of Isaac on the altar, and the other ultimate tests of religious narrative, this story places Nephi in a category apart.

1 Nephi 4: 14-18

I remembered.........................................his own sermon to his brothers comes back to educate him
need the law............................................must sometimes act according to the rules of the Law of Moses, even when it is not pleasant
need the law.............................................the same expression holds for those who will receive the record
purpose of his finding of Laban......................the Spirit lets him know that this is the way to get the plates
he acts........................................the spiritual logic and impressions lead Nephi to kill Laban with his sword

Nephi acts.  The act will change the rest of his life profoundly.

1 Nephi 4: 19-27

girded in the armor.......................................his Spirit-driven continues  He is drawn to imitate Laban
went to the treasury...................Nephi goes directly to the place where he will find the record.
commanded in the voice of Laban.........................Nephi either had this talent to imitate, or Laban had a such an idiosyncratic type voice that it was easy to imitate
he supposed.................................the servant of Laban does not question Laban's identity
the conversation......................................Nephi able to have a continuing conversation with the servant without detection.
carry the engravings and follo...........................the servant actually assists in the removal of the record.  Nothing is spoken about any other removals, particularly Lehi's property

The Spirit makes it simple to obtain the record and to transfer it to Lehi's family.  The servant doesn't even question Nephi's actions.

1 Nephi 4: 28-35

reactions of the brothers..........................the imitation of Laban is so convincing that the brothers assume Nephi has been killed
calls for them.....................................they are stopped and realize the presence of Nephi
servant's reaction......................................now it is the servants turn to fear
the oath...............................................the servant is given an opportunity to join Nephi and the family.  Does he have a choice?  He is given a promise of equal status.
teaches him.........................................Nephi even gives his an opportunity to make a spiritual conversion
Zoram agrees..............................................This man, with little actual force, joins the family of Nephi

The disguise almost backfires.  However as the events continue to develop, another member of the migration is brought into play.

1 Nephi 4: 35-

tarry with us....................................he is made an honored guest.  They do not want him to return to the city.  He could be their undoing.
Zoram's oath.................................he become an integral member of their community.  They do not fear him at all
return to the tent..................................they journey home.

Zoram become a worrisome issue.  But he actually joins with them.  This brings up many questions about his motivations and his relationship to Laban.  It sounds like he was more a slave than anything else, and his emancipation offers him a far better future.

The chapter:

Nephi offers this narrative to us so that we can understand the tremendously difficult decisions that he went through to follow the dictates of the Spirit.  As he continued, he found the events fell miraculously into line, each item working to the future success of his life and to the establishing of his family in America.  He makes no apologies for his behavior.  He triumphs in accomplishing his duty.  I think that this story would become a permanent controversy concerning himself.