Faith of Nephi and its Effects--Sam's Belief—-Revelation with Promise
to Nephi--Land of Promise, Choice Above other Lands--Nephi to be a
Ruler and a Teacher to his Brethren--Required to Return to
Jerusalem--His Willingness--Lehi Gratified at His Faith--Laban and
Brass Plates--Angry and Refused to Give Them to Laman--Threatened His
Life--Laman and Lemuel Discouraged--Nephi's Proposition--His Brothers
Agree to it.
It is at this point we begin to get an insight into Nephi's character.
He was, as he tells us, exceeding young, though large in stature, yet
he had great desires to know of the mysteries of God, and he cried
unto the Lord. The Lord visited him and softened his heart, and he
believed all the words of his father. This kept him from rebelling
against his father as his two brothers had done. He told his brother
Sam what the Lord had manifested unto him by His Holy Spirit, and he
believed his words. From all that has come down to us concerning this
older brother of Nephi's, Sam, he was a man of great worth, not an
aspiring, jealous, envious man, but humble, believing, obedient,
steadfast, true and faithful. He was not gifted like his brother
Nephi; but, though older, he recognized Nephi's authority, submitted
to his direction and counsel, received his teachings and always stood
by him in all the dissensions and difficulties which the unbelief,
jealousy and envy of their two oldest brothers created.
Nephi also told Laman and Lemuel that which the Lord had shown him;
but it was of no avail. They did not believe him. Their unbelief
grieved him, and he cried unto the Lord for them. The Lord then
blessed him because of his faith, and said to him that he had sought
Him diligently with lowliness of heart. He told him further that, if
they would keep His commandments, they would prosper, and they should
be led to the land of promise, a land which He had prepared for them,
and which was choice above other lands; but if his brethren should
rebel against him, they should be cut off from the presence of the
Lord; if he, Nephi, would keep His commandments he should be made a
ruler and a teacher over his brethren. He also told him at this time
that in the day his brethren should rebel against Him, the Lord, He
would curse them with a sore curse, and they should have no power over
the children of Nephi, except they should also rebel against Him; and
if they should rebel against Him, they should be a scourge unto them
to stir them up in the ways of remembrance. From this we see that the
Lord had chosen Nephi to be the ruler and teacher of his brethren, and
this in consequence of his faith in seeking Him, and because of their
iniquities.
In this revelation to Nephi appears for the first time in the record
any allusion to the land of promise, the choice land above all others,
which He destined them to inhabit. Doubtless the Lord had already
revealed this to Lehi. But it does not appear. Nephi informs us that
there were many things his father had written that he had seen in
visions and dreams and that he had prophesied about, which he, Nephi,
had not given a full account of.
The selection by the Lord of Nephi to be their ruler and their teacher
was always a cause of anger and trouble to Laman and Lemuel. They
themselves never lived in a way to entitle them either to rule or
teach; and yet they were never heartily willing that Nephi should do
so. Laman had the birthright as the oldest son, but he did not put
himself in a position to exercise the rights which belonged to it. It
was with him as with Cain, to whom the Lord said: "If thou doest well,
shalt thou not be accepted? And if thou doest not well, sin lieth at
the door. And unto thee shall be his (speaking of Abel) desire and
thou shalt rule over him."
Laman would not do well. The Lord could not, consistently with His
attributes and laws, sustain him in his wrong-doing and make him the
ruler; and because Nephi did obey the Lord, and thereby obtained the
leadership, both Laman and Lemuel hated him.
After communing with the Lord Nephi returned to his father's tent.
Then Lehi told him of a dream which he had had, in which the Lord had
commanded him to send Nephi and his brothers back to Jerusalem to get
the record of the Jews and the genealogy of their forefathers which
were engraven upon plates of brass, and were in the possession of a
man by the name of Laban, who was, as well as Lehi, a descendant of
Joseph. Lehi told Nephi that his brothers murmured at this request,
and said it was a hard thing which he had required of them; but, he
added, "I have not required it of them; it is a commandment of the
Lord." He told Nephi to go and he should be favored of the Lord,
because he had not murmured. Nephi replied that he would go and do
what the Lord had commanded.
"For," said he, "I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the
children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may
accomplish the thing which he commandeth them."
There is a volume of meaning in this memorable remark of Nephi's, and
it furnishes us the key to the actions of his entire life and the
unfailing success which attended all his movements. Though he was but
a youth, this expression shows that already he was full of faith. When
God commanded him, all hesitation and doubt disappeared. He was ready
to do his part, perfectly satisfied that the Lord would make up all
that was necessary. The record informs us that when Lehi heard these
words, he was exceedingly glad, for he knew that his son had been
blessed of the Lord. This must have been a great comfort to him under
the circumstances. However rebellious and hard the older ones might
be, now he was not entirely alone; for here was one, at least, who
could understand and sustain him.
The four sons, Laman, Lemuel, Sam and Nephi, took their tents and
started for Jerusalem. After reaching there they held a consultation,
and decided to cast lots to know which of them should have an
interview with Laban. The lot fell upon Laman, the oldest. He now had
the opportunity to show his ability. But he had weakened himself
before he started by his murmuring and calling this a hard thing to
do. One could therefore guess beforehand how his attempt would result.
He saw Laban in his house and had a talk with him, during which he
asked him for the records which were engraved upon the plates of
brass, and which also contained his father's genealogy. Laban got
angry and would not let him have the records; but thrust him out, and
called him a robber, and threatened to kill him. Laman ran away from
him, glad doubtless to escape without injury. His account to his
brothers of his reception made them all feel sorrowful, and the older
ones concluded it was no use to try any more to get the brass plates,
and they would return to their father. This was not Nephi's feeling.
He had been sent for those records; the Lord had given the command;
and he was determined to get them before he returned. He told his
brothers that, as the Lord lived and they lived, they would not go
back to their father until they had accomplished that which the Lord
had commanded them. It was at this juncture, when obstacles had to be
overcome and the others were ready to succumb to them, that Nephi's
superiority began to exhibit itself. He had been humble and sought
unto the Lord; now the Lord was giving him strength and bringing into
exercise those qualities which made him the leader among his brothers.
Instead of returning, he proposed they should go and gather up the
gold and silver and other riches which their father had left, when he
moved out, and take these to Laban in exchange for the plates. He
pointed out to his brothers how necessary it was they should have
these records. They needed them to preserve for their children the
language of the fathers, as well as the words of their holy prophets
which had been delivered to them by the Spirit and power of God from
the beginning of the world up to that time. His reasoning and
arguments had weight with them and they agreed to his plan.