Nephi Died--Example of his Life--Internal Evidence of Divinity of his
Writings in the Spirit of God which Accompanies Them--An Eventful
Career--Admirable in Every Relation--A Born Leader, Successful as a
Mechanic, Miner, Seaman, Chemist, Metallurgist, Stockraiser,
Agriculturist, Manufacturer and Statesman--Expanded Views of the
Rights and Equality of Man--Religious Liberty--The End.
"And it came to pass that Nephi died." In this simple language does
Jacob record this event. He leaves Nephi's works to speak for him. And
their consideration cannot fail to be of profit to all who will give
them attention. The example of such a life is of immense benefit to
mankind; it strengthens, elevates and inspires with noble purpose all
who become acquainted with it. No Latter-day Saint can read the life
of Nephi, as he has given it to us in his record, without being
incited to exercise greater faith, to live nearer to God and to
cherish loftier aims.
It can be said about the writings of Nephi (and this is also true of
the entire Book of Mormon, and in fact of all saving truth) that they
bring the conviction of their divinity to the heart of every one who
reads them in the spirit in which they are written. Read in that
spirit, they fill the soul with a sweet and heavenly joy that only the
Spirit of God can produce.
The career of Nephi was a most eventful one. He passed through many
trials and afflictions; he was often in positions of peril: but he
never yielded, never faltered, nor never shrunk from any ordeal to
which he was exposed. In every relation of life he admirably performed
his part. As a son, he was all his father could desire, and of this
Lehi bore ample testimony before he died. As a brother he did all in
his power to benefit and save his kindred. What his course was with
those who followed and cast their lots with him, we can understand by
reading his teachings, his labors and the love in which they held him
while living and his memory when dead. He was patient, persevering,
energetic and skillful; a man who was evidently born to lead. He
exhibited these qualities when required to return to Jerusalem.
Afterwards in the wilderness it seemed as though the company would all
have perished had it not been for his good sense and capacity as a
hunter. In building the ship, in its management upon the ocean, in
teaching his people to work in wood and in metals of all kinds--iron,
copper, brass, steel, silver, and gold--he exhibited his skill as a
mechanic, a miner, a seaman, chemist and metallurgist. He manufactured
swords and other weapons of defense, he built houses, he cultivated
the ground, he raised flocks and herds, he built a temple, which
though not so costly as Solomon's, was constructed after its pattern,
and the workmanship upon it was exceedingly fine; he taught his people
to be skillful, industrious and how to apply their labor to the best
advantage; as a statesman he organized society upon a firm and
permanent basis, laid the foundation of civil and religious liberty;
gave shape to the government and polity and implanted in the breasts
of his people such a love for and a determination to maintain equal
rights that the effects were felt, it may be said in truth, through
all the generations of his race. Understanding as he did the
government of the Lord, before whom there are no privileged classes,
he respected the rights of the people; and while he knew there must be
officers to bear responsibility and a properly organized government,
he knew also that it should be based upon the consent of the people.
He brought with him to this "promised land" the broadest conceptions
respecting the principle of human equality and the rights of men. Some
of his views we gather from his teachings. Speaking of the Lord, he
says: "And He inviteth them all to come unto Him and partake of His
goodness; and He denieth none that come unto Him, black and white,
bond and free, male and female; and He remembereth the heathen, and
all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile." The nobility in which
he evidently believed, was the nobility of good deeds. The perfect
performance of duty would ennoble the poorest and the lowliest and
make him the peer of the richest and the best born. While his people
were true to his teachings, this sentiment always prevailed. They
enjoyed the largest liberty consistent with the preservation of good
order. Every man had the greatest freedom of belief. Theft, robbery,
violence, adultery and murder were all punished under the law; but
there was no law against a man's belief; persecution of religion,
however erroneous or false the religion might be, was expressly
forbidden and was made punishable. In this way the equality and free
agency of the people were preserved, and they were left at liberty to
choose for themselves their faith and form of worship. So far as his
influence and teachings went among the people, they were free and the
country was a land of liberty unto them.
We here close the life of Nephi. He has shown us how much a mortal
man, who devotes himself to God and His work, can accomplish for
himself and his fellow-mortals, and how near, by the exercise of
faith, man can draw to God.