A little background on the story of Lehi (Nephi's Father) and Nephi and family: First of all, Lehi was a very wealthy business person in Jerusalem. They had silver and gold attractive enough to be chased by King Laban's guards when they brought a lot of it hoping to bargain for the genealogical records of Joseph that King Laban had. King Laban saw it all and sent them away with the intention that the guards would kill and keep the riches. (1 Nephi 3:25)
When Lehi had his dream that we read of in the first chapter of First Nephi(1 Nephi 1:5-15, http://scriptures.lds.org/en/1_ne/1), we read this about his experience in following the Spirit:
"that after the Lord had shown so many marvelous things unto my father, Lehi, yea, concerning the adestruction of Jerusalem, behold he went forth among the people, and began to bprophesy and to declare unto them concerning the things which he had both seen and heard.
19 And it came to pass that the aJews did bmock him because of the things which he testified of them; for he truly testified of their cwickedness and their abominations; and he testified that the things which he saw and heard, and also the things which he read in the book, manifested plainly of the coming of a dMessiah, and also the redemption of the world.
20 And when the Jews heard these things they were angry with him; yea, even as with the prophets of old, whom they had acast out, and stoned, and slain; and they also bsought his life, that they might take it away. But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender cmercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of ddeliverance." (1 Nephi 18-20)
What a difficult moment for Lehi's family. When we read on into the second chapter of Nephi, we find that the Lord told Lehi to take his family and flee Jerusalem because there were people who wanted to kill Lehi. So their family up and left with very little, leaving their riches, that they had enjoyed and worked for for presumably a very long time, behind. All of this because Lehi was willing to follow the Lord. Some people would reason their way out of a big move brought on by following the promptings of the Spirit because they couldn't define a good, solid, tangible reason why the Lord would want them to leave their work, family, connections, wealth and community behind. After all hadn't He blessed them with all of this prosperity in the first place? But Lehi and Sariah were righteous and full of the faith that there was a very good reason to take their family from the forewarned danger and out into the unknown.
We read that they traveled down by the Red Sea where at this point Nephi Says those words, "and my Father dwelt in a tent."
Just recently, maybe a month or two ago (time flies around here), I read this yet one more time in my quest to read the Book of Mormon and enjoy the great feelings and wisdom that I continue to gain in my readings of the scriptures. As a sidebar, my Father and Mother always told me that every time I read any of the scriptures no matter how young or old, I would always have new things inspire me. So when I did read again, something was different. This particular scripture jumped out at me. It wasn't funny, it seemed to have something important to tell me.
And then the light bulb went off. There was real meaning to this one sentence. The one that alluded any real analysis on my part, until now.
Could it be that Nephi was paying his father, Lehi, a highly successful businessman in the very large city/kingdom of Jerusalem who had everything a man at that day and age could want, a wonderful wife, great sons, money, spirituality, comfort and associations, the highest complement that a son could give a righteous father? Remember that living in a tent meant that you had the life of a nomad, wandering from place to place. Home was not as secure neither were your basic necessities. It was for many, the most humbling, modest form of living-really considered my many to be uncivilized. Could it be that without mincing words Nephi was really saying, "My most devoted father as the Patriarch of our family and as a Son of God gave up just about everything to follow the commandments of God"? Could it be that we see the love of a righteous son shining through in 6 words?
In this day and age where many who have had much have lost much and where righteous people everywhere have been asked to do "different" and "strange" things on behalf of the Lord and His work (like obeying the 10 commandments, moving, sharing the gospel, following a living prophet, live in wisdom and sobriety, etc.) with the understanding that they would be mocked, scorned, threatened, and driven out (of their homes, sports teams, community centers, social groups), isn't this most simple of all sentences saturated with deep love and respect actually quite inspirational?
It's like one of those treasured Father's Day cards hand written by a child speaking the simple truth about what their Father means to them and what he's done for them. It's always more priceless than any store-bought gift.
In this sentence we now see Lehi as the man of God that he was. We can also see that his son recognized this and wanted so badly to acknowledge the greatness he saw in his Father, the great Patriarch.
So simple.
So very grand.
So now when this scripture is brought up because it's short and sweet, I will not giggle but swell with respect for great men living great lives who have inspired me so deeply and in yet one more way.
What a difficult moment for Lehi's family. When we read on into the second chapter of Nephi, we find that the Lord told Lehi to take his family and flee Jerusalem because there were people who wanted to kill Lehi. So their family up and left with very little, leaving their riches, that they had enjoyed and worked for for presumably a very long time, behind. All of this because Lehi was willing to follow the Lord. Some people would reason their way out of a big move brought on by following the promptings of the Spirit because they couldn't define a good, solid, tangible reason why the Lord would want them to leave their work, family, connections, wealth and community behind. After all hadn't He blessed them with all of this prosperity in the first place? But Lehi and Sariah were righteous and full of the faith that there was a very good reason to take their family from the forewarned danger and out into the unknown.
We read that they traveled down by the Red Sea where at this point Nephi Says those words, "and my Father dwelt in a tent."
Just recently, maybe a month or two ago (time flies around here), I read this yet one more time in my quest to read the Book of Mormon and enjoy the great feelings and wisdom that I continue to gain in my readings of the scriptures. As a sidebar, my Father and Mother always told me that every time I read any of the scriptures no matter how young or old, I would always have new things inspire me. So when I did read again, something was different. This particular scripture jumped out at me. It wasn't funny, it seemed to have something important to tell me.
And then the light bulb went off. There was real meaning to this one sentence. The one that alluded any real analysis on my part, until now.
Could it be that Nephi was paying his father, Lehi, a highly successful businessman in the very large city/kingdom of Jerusalem who had everything a man at that day and age could want, a wonderful wife, great sons, money, spirituality, comfort and associations, the highest complement that a son could give a righteous father? Remember that living in a tent meant that you had the life of a nomad, wandering from place to place. Home was not as secure neither were your basic necessities. It was for many, the most humbling, modest form of living-really considered my many to be uncivilized. Could it be that without mincing words Nephi was really saying, "My most devoted father as the Patriarch of our family and as a Son of God gave up just about everything to follow the commandments of God"? Could it be that we see the love of a righteous son shining through in 6 words?
In this day and age where many who have had much have lost much and where righteous people everywhere have been asked to do "different" and "strange" things on behalf of the Lord and His work (like obeying the 10 commandments, moving, sharing the gospel, following a living prophet, live in wisdom and sobriety, etc.) with the understanding that they would be mocked, scorned, threatened, and driven out (of their homes, sports teams, community centers, social groups), isn't this most simple of all sentences saturated with deep love and respect actually quite inspirational?
It's like one of those treasured Father's Day cards hand written by a child speaking the simple truth about what their Father means to them and what he's done for them. It's always more priceless than any store-bought gift.
In this sentence we now see Lehi as the man of God that he was. We can also see that his son recognized this and wanted so badly to acknowledge the greatness he saw in his Father, the great Patriarch.
So simple.
So very grand.
So now when this scripture is brought up because it's short and sweet, I will not giggle but swell with respect for great men living great lives who have inspired me so deeply and in yet one more way.
3 comments:
Thank you for these wonderful thoughts.
That's my spiritual food for the day. Thanks for sharing.
Dad
Excellent, Sherry! Thanks for sharing this powerful insight.
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