MARRIAGES IN THE COMPANY--THE LIAHONA--THE JOURNEY CONTINUED--NEPHI
BREAKS HIS BOW--DEATH OF ISHMAEL--THEY REACH THE OCEAN--NEPHI BUILDS
A SHIP--THEY CROSS THE GREAT WATERS AND REACH THE PROMISED LAND.
(I. NEPHI CHAP. 16 TO 18.)
While the two families dwelt in the Valley of Lemuel they had a
number of marriages. Zoram, Laban's servant, married Ishmael's eldest
daughter, and each of Lehi's four sons married one of her sisters. We
are not told whether Lehi's daughters were married at this time or not.
Soon after these marriages the voice of the Lord spake unto Lehi
by night and commanded him that on the morrow he should resume his
journey. When Lehi arose the next morning and went to the door of his
tent he saw a strange object lying on the ground before him. It was a
brass ball of very fine workmanship. Within this ball were two spindles
or needles, one of which pointed the way that the little company should
travel in the wilderness.
God had prepared this strange instrument or guide for them. In the days
of Moses, when he led the children of Israel out of Egypt, a pillar
of cloud by day and of fire by night moved in front of them. This the
Hebrews followed. But to Lehi he gave this Liahona, or compass, as the
ball was called; and it pointed the way they should travel. It had
one strange peculiarity, which was that it worked according to their
faith and diligence. When they kept God's law it showed them much
more clearly the way they should go than when they were careless or
rebellious.
[Illustration: ANCIENT AZTEC CHART, SHOWING LEHI'S TRAVELS. NO. 3.]
[Illustration: ANCIENT AZTEC CHART, SHOWING LEHI'S TRAVELS. NO. 4.]
Some people have confused this ball, because it is called a compass,
with the mariner's compass, that sailors use at sea to direct the
course of their ships. But there is a great difference between the two.
The Liahona pointed the way that Lehi's company should travel, while
the needle in the mariner's compass points to the north. The one showed
the way Lehi _should_ go, the other informs the traveler which way he
_is_ going. The one was specially prepared by the Lord for Lehi and
his companions, and was used through faith only; the other can be used
by all men, whether believers in the true God, pagans or infidels. At
times, also, writing would miraculously appear on the Liahona, giving
directions or reproving for sin, as the company most needed.
According to the command of the Lord the company gathered their
provisions, their tents, their seeds and other things and again started
on their long and oft-times wearisome journey. They traveled a little
east of south, and after four days again rested at a place to which
they gave the name of Shazer. Here they hunted and killed game for
food. When they had obtained enough for present use they again started,
traveling in very much the same direction, and keeping near the eastern
shore of the Red Sea.
About this time a slight accident occurred which gave cause for much
trouble and discontent. It would appear that Nephi was the chief hunter
of the company. Going out one day to slay beasts for food he broke his
bow, which was made of very fine steel. This made his brothers very
angry, for they obtained no food, as their bows had lost their springs.
Hungry, angry and dejected, they returned to their tents. They were
very much fatigued, and, like most men when hungry and tired, they
were in bad humor. Even Lehi so far forgot himself, at this time, that
he also murmured against the Lord. But Nephi, in this trying hour,
retained his trust in God. He did not murmur nor complain, but, after
having reasoned with the rest of the family, he went to work, and out
of suitable wood he made a bow, and out of a straight stick he cut an
arrow. When he had done this he went to his father, who had now humbled
himself before the Lord and sought forgiveness, and asked him where he
should go to obtain food.
Then the voice of the Lord came to Lehi and he was truly chastened
because of his murmuring. The voice said, Look upon the ball. When
he looked he was seized with fear because of the things which were
written thereon, and the rest of the family also feared and trembled
exceedingly when they read the writing.
The writing on the ball also directed Nephi to go to the top of a
certain high mountain, and there slay game for food. This he did, and
brought it with joy to the tents of his people.
We think it probable that the design near the top of the accompanying
Aztec map is intended to represent this incident; as the bird has
evidently been shot by an arrow from the hunter's bow. The lower
portion seems to show some of the many attempts made by Nephi's
brethren to slay him, when they bound him to trees in the wilderness
and otherwise abused him. Picture four is evidently a record of the
months or years occupied in the journey.
The journey was thus continued for a long time. The company would
travel for a few days, then rest and hunt, then again take up the line
of march as the compass directed. It generally guided them through the
most fertile portions of the desert. Their journeys appear to have
been frequently disturbed by the bad conduct of Laman and Lemuel and
of those who would heed them. Before long, Ishmael, who was an aged
man, died, at a place which they named Nahom. This was a cause of great
grief to his children, and a fresh excuse for Laman and his following
to murmur. They complained that they had been led into that strange
land to die of want and fatigue, and desired to go back to Jerusalem.
So hard hearted had Laman by this time become that, with others, he
formed a plot to murder his own father and his brother Nephi. But the
voice of the Lord came to them, chastened them severely for their sins,
and reproved them with such power that their hearts were softened and
they repented. After this the Lord again blessed them.
From this time the compass changed the course of their travel and they
journeyed almost directly eastward. This must have taken them across
the peninsula of Arabia to its eastern coast.
It took them eight years to make the journey, during which time a
number of children were born, including two sons to Lehi's wife. These
he called Jacob and Joseph. As they went the Lord strengthened them,
that they endured their privations and labors without fatigue. He would
not permit them to make much fire to prepare their food, but rendered
it sweet to them without cooking.
They had great joy when they came to the sea. They gave to it the name
of Irreantum, which word means many waters. The land on the coast they
called Bountiful, because of its much fruit and wild honey. While they
rested on the sea shore the Lord gave Nephi a new command. It was that
he should build a ship to carry the company across the ocean. As we may
suppose, Nephi's brothers made all kinds of fun of him when they found
he was about to try to build a ship. But this did not affect him. He
knew that God never told a man to do a thing that he did not give him
power to do. It was so in this case. The Lord revealed to Nephi all
that was necessary, and the building of the ship began.
At first Nephi's brothers would not help him in the least. They treated
him as the people did Noah when he was building the ark. They called
him a fool, and mocked him, and then threatened to throw him into
the sea. But the power of God was so strong upon Nephi that had his
brothers attempted to carry out their threat they would have withered
before him like a dried reed. As it was, when he stretched forth his
hand towards them they felt a shock, which made their whole frames
quiver. This convinced them that God was with their brother, for no man
could have such power unless God was with him. After this they went to
work and helped Nephi build the ship; and a good ship it was, the Lord
having directed the way in which it should be fashioned.
When the vessel was finished the Lord told Lehi and his people to go
on board. They took with them fruit, meat, honey, and other food in
abundance, with many other things needful for their comfort; also seeds
to plant in the soil of the promised land. Then they all embarked--men,
women and children--beginning at the eldest, down to the least. A
favorable wind sprang up and they were swiftly carried towards the
promised land. First they crossed the Indian Ocean, then the South
Pacific Ocean, and after many days reached the west coast of South
America. They landed at a point near where the city of Valparaiso, in
Chili, now stands.
But we must not forget to tell you that on the voyage they had another
of those ever-recurring outbreaks. Laman, some of the sons of Ishmael
and others, at one time, grew very merry. By and by they became
boisterous and rude. They danced and sang and talked improperly. Nephi
reproved them. This opened the old sore. They said they would not have
him for their ruler, but would do as they pleased. Then they seized and
bound him, hands and feet, so tightly that he suffered a great deal.
The result was that the Lord was angry and the compass ceased to work.
A heavy storm arose, a head wind drove them back upon the waters, the
waves threatened to engulf them, and they were all in danger of being
drowned. For three days the rebels continued stubborn in their anger;
during that time they would not loose Nephi, and every one who plead
for him or spoke in his favor was threatened with like tortures. At
last, however, the danger grew so threatening that they released him;
but his legs and arms had swollen so greatly by reason of the way in
which he had been tied that he could scarcely use them. Notwithstanding
his great weakness and suffering, as soon as he was loosed he took the
compass, and in his hands it began to work. Then the wind fell, the
storm ceased, and there came a great calm. And Nephi took charge of the
ship and guided it without further trouble, to the promised land.[4]
[‡Illustration: Ancient Hieroglyphic Chart.]
FOOTNOTE:
[4] On the opposite page we present a reduced copy of a hieroglyphic
drawing in the British Museum, representing the journey of the
forefathers of the Mexicans from Asia to this continent. The original
was first given to the world by the famous Italian traveler Gumelli
Farerri in his book entitled "Giro del Mondo." Clavigero, Humboldt and
others have endeavored to explain the meaning of this drawing. You
will notice a palm tree near a hieroglyphic which much resembles that
supposed to represent Jerusalem in the commencement of the Boturini
manuscript. This is said to signify the house of God; here the journey
began. Near by is a bird, which stands for Asia. The tradition runs
thus: Huitziton was a person of great authority amongst the Aztecs, in
Asia, who for some reason not remembered, persuaded his countrymen to
change their country. While he was thus meditating, a bird was heard
singing in a bush ti hui, ti hui, which means "let us go." "Do you hear
that?" said Zacpaltzin, "it is the warning voice of the secret Deity
to leave this continent and to find another." Therefore they started,
with those they could persuade to go with them, traveling by Tlapalan,
translated, the country of the Red Sea, and after long journeys reached
the land where the hieroglyphics leaves them.