Nephi has been swept up in a vision wherein he saw a confirmation of the dream his father had, as well as the meaning of it. He has seen the fate that will befall his descendents, and has seen the end times of the world. He now returns to his father’s tent.
1. And it came to pass that after I, Nephi, had been carried away in the spirit, and seen all these things, I returned to the tent of my father.
2. And it came to pass that I beheld my brethren, and they were disputing one with another concerning the things which my father had spoken unto them.
3. For he truly spake many great things unto them, which were hard to be understood, save a man should inquire of the Lord; and they being hard in their hearts, therefore they did not look unto the Lord as they ought.
4. And now I, Nephi, was grieved because of the hardness of their hearts, and also, because of the things which I had seen, and knew they must unavoidably come to pass because of the great wickedness of the children of men.
As I picture this scene, I think of Nephi. He has just spent time in the presence of the angel of the Lord, a fact he cannot dispute and does not want to. He has had revealed to him great secrets concerning the fate of the people upon the face of the land. He has seen Christ in vision and knows of a surety that He will come. Filled with the Spirit, he returns home, probably dazed and thinking back on all he’s seen, and he walks in on this hotbed of contention. His brothers are mocking things he holds dear and he knows to be true. It’s no wonder that he’s grieved – he has just seen what will befall his brethren, and it’s being played out before his very eyes as he returns home.
5. And it came to pass that I was overcome because of my afflictions, for I considered that mine afflictions were great above all, because of the destruction of my people, for I had beheld their fall.
I think we can all feel for Nephi here. He knows something they don’t know, and it’s a terrible knowledge. He loves his brothers, he prays for them and wants their success, but they just won’t listen to him. Imagine, if you knew someone was going to die a horrible death and they wouldn’t listen to you and keep themselves safe – how would you feel? Nephi knows his brothers are going to die a horrible spiritual death, and they won’t do anything about it. I’m sure he feels sick inside.
6. And it came to pass that after I had received strength I spake unto my brethren, desiring to know of them the cause of their disputations.
I find it significant that he had to receive strength. He’s worn out physically from the climb down the mountain and emotionally from everything he’s just seen. Spiritually he’s been raised to a higher level than he ever has been before, but that’s exhausting as well. Now he needs strength to face the contention his brothers are feeding and to keep himself from losing the spirit he has with him so strongly at that moment.
From today’s reading: when we are worn out physically or emotionally, and need strength to deal with our challenges, do we ask for it, or do we try to handle it on our own?
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