Nephi and his brothers have returned to Jerusalem at their father’s request and the Lord’s command to ask Ishmael and his family to join them in the wilderness. Ishmael had several daughters and they would make good wives for the sons of Lehi. Ishmael has agreed and now the group is on their way back to the tents of Lehi.
6. And it came to pass that as we journeyed in the wilderness, behold Laman and Lemuel, and two of the daughters of Ishmael, and the two sons of Ishmael and their families, did rebel against us; yea, against me, Nephi, and Sam, and their father, Ishmael, and his wife, and his three other daughters.
7. And it came to pass in the which rebellion, they were desirous to return unto the land of Jerusalem.
8. And now I, Nephi, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, therefore I spake unto them, saying, yea, even unto Laman and unto Lemuel: Behold ye are mine elder brethren, and how is it that ye are so hard in your hearts, and so blind in your minds, that ye have need that I, your younger brother, brother, should speak unto you, yea, and set an example for you?
9. How is it that ye have not hearkened unto the word of the Lord?
10. How is it that ye have forgotten that ye have seen an angel of the Lord?
11. Yea, and how is it that ye have forgotten what great things the Lord hath done for us, in delivering us out of the hands of Laban, and also that we should obtain the record?
12. Yea, and how is it that ye have forgotten that the Lord is able to do all things according to his will, for the children of men, if it so be that they exercise faith in him? Wherefore, let us be faithful to him.
13. And if it so be that we are faithful to him, we shall obtain the land of promise; and ye shall know at some future period that the word of the Lord shall be fulfilled concerning the destruction of Jerusalem; for all things which the Lord hath spoken concerning the destruction of Jerusalem must be fulfilled.
Laman and Lemuel have been privy to many of the wonderful miracles of the Lord, and they did indeed see an angel with their own eyes. But their minds keep returning to their big houses and the wealth they left behind, and they have yet to see the worth of following the Lord’s commandments. They can only envision what it would be like to return to Jerusalem and resume the lives they knew before. They still don’t believe that Jerusalem will be destroyed and they think that they would be able to live quite happily there. Nephi is trying to convince them that destruction is eminent, and continues to speak of those who live in the city in verse fourteen:
14. For behold, the Spirit of the Lord ceaseth soon to strive with them; for behold, they have rejected the prophets, and Jeremiah have they cast into prison. And they have sought to take away the life of my father, insomuch that they have driven him out of the land.
15. Now behold, I say unto you that if ye will return unto Jerusalem ye shall also perish with them. And now, if ye have choice, go up to the land, and remember the words which I speak unto you, that if ye go ye will also perish; for thus the Spirit of the Lord constraineth me that I should speak.
Nephi is anxious that his brothers not return – he knows what will happen to them if they do. The Spirit urges him to tell them of the danger, but they know nothing of the workings of the Spirit and their hearts are hardened.
From today’s reading: How can we keep our hearts soft so we can hear the Spirit?
Related Blogs:
Your Priorities or the Lord’s Priorities?