Lehi had a vision within a dream, and Nephi wants to know the meaning of the dream. Taken up in a vision of his own, he converses with the Spirit of the Lord, who explains the interpretation to him. This is one of my favorite chapters in 1 Nephi.
1. For it came to pass after I had desired to know the things that my father had seen, and believing that the Lord was able to make them known unto me, as I sat pondering in mine heart I was caught away in the Spirit of the Lord, yea, into an exceedingly high mountain, which I never had before seen, and upon which I never had before set my foot.
There are several interesting elements in this verse. First, Nephi has a righteous desire. Second, he believes that the Lord could grant it to him. Third, he sits quietly, pondering upon the situation. These are classic steps toward getting an answer to prayer – we desire to know, we have faith, and we quietly think it through. Then Nephi is taken away to a different location. I find this interesting too. Nephi could concentrate on the things he’s being shown, not getting distracted by a familiar surrounding.
2. And the Spirit said unto me: Behold, what desirest thou?
3. And I said: I desire to behold the things which my father saw.
4. And the Spirit said unto me: Believest thou that thy father saw the tree of which he hath spoken?
5. And I said: Yea, thou knowest that I believe all the words of my father.
Once upon the mountain, the Spirit asks Nephi to testify to his faith. Once the Spirit hears, in Nephi’s own words, that yes, he has faith and does believe, the Spirit can then proceed to grant Nephi the desires of his heart.
6. And when I had spoken these words, the Spirit cried with a loud voice, saying: Hosanna to the Lord, the most high God; for he is God over all the earth, yea, even above all. And blessed art thou, Nephi, because thou believest in the Son of the most high God; wherefore, thou shalt behold the things which thou hast desired.
The Spirit’s main duty is to testify in all things of the Father and the Son. It has also been given to us as a comforter, but above all else, the Spirit is to whisper truth to us and to tell us in every particular that God is our Father. I think this verse beautifully illustrates the Spirit in action. Before we see Nephi’s desires granted, we hear a beautiful statement of praise to the Lord and a validation that Nephi’s faith is the key to unlock the answer to his prayer.
7. And behold this thing shall be given unto thee for a sign, that after thou hast beheld the tree which bore the fruit which thy father tasted, thou shalt also behold a man descending out of heaven, and him shall ye witness; and after ye have witnessed him ye shall bear record that it is the Son of God.
8. And it came to pass that the Spirit said unto me: Look! And I looked and beheld a tree; and it was like unto the tree which my father had seen; and the beauty thereof was far beyond, yea, exceeding of all beauty; and the whiteness thereof did exceed the whiteness of the driven snow.
9. And it came to pass after I had seen the tree, I said unto the Spirit: I behold thou hast shown unto me the tree which is precious above all.
This is interesting to me, that even before Nephi receives the interpretation of the tree, or knows what the tree is meant to represent, he senses that this tree is the most precious thing there is.
10. And he said unto me: What desirest thou?
11. And I said unto him: To know the interpretation thereof—for I spake unto him as a man speaketh; for I beheld that he was in the form of a man; yet nevertheless, I knew that it was the Spirit of the Lord; and he spake unto me as a man speaketh with another.
I’ve read the Book of Mormon several times, but never this slowly and never recording my thoughts like I am in the process of this blog series. I just now noticed that the Spirit of the Lord is conversing with Nephi, face to face, and it occurs to me that this is very unusual for the Spirit. He usually converses with us in our hearts, and not in a face to face setting. How very interesting. I’m going to research this a bit further.
From today’s reading, how can we harness our faith so that we might receive the answers to the questions that burn in our hearts?
Related Blogs:
How Do You Know When You’ve Lost the Spirit?
That We May Always Have His Spirit to Be With Us
Studying the Scriptures Brings Balance to the Day