One of the most often stories referred to in the Book of Mormon is the story of Nephi and his brother, Laman, Lemuel and Sam. I do not think that their story is more compelling than those of other people in the book, but their story is at the beginning of the book. I thought it wold be nice if I took some time a mentioned some memorable things that I have learned from Nephi as he takes it upon himself to be a servant of God.
In the First Book of Nephi, the beginning book in the volume of books we can learn about Nephi's family and how the lord led Lehi, Nephi's father from the land of Jerusalem to the ancient Americas. We learn about the hardships that Nephi and other righteous members of Lehi's family had to suffer at the hands of the two oldest sons Laman and Lemuel who did not believe the things that Lehi taught--but went along with it because Lehi was their father. I know that was along sentence.
I thought about writing about things from Nephi's perspective because it is much easier to do so since I have an entire record written that includes his take on what happened. From what I understand. Laman, the foremost of the two elder brothers, did not have a taste for scribing. If he did, he was not very keen on putting anything in writing to preserve for future generations. Instead of starting off chapter one of 1 Nephi, I think I want to change the perspective and see how might Laman tell the same story his younger brother wrote.
If you are new to the Book of Mormon and have no idea what I am talking about, I suggestion you go to the official website of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There you will find much information about everything the church that publishes the Book of Mormon teaches. If you just want to find out about the book, click on one of the links.
Also, if you want to read some other articles related to the book that I have written, click The Book of Mormon is Another Testimony of Jesus Christ From Ancient America. This article explores the book as the product of the man who first abridged it, Mormon. From that article you will be able to review other articles.
Anyway, this is how I think Laman begin: I Laman, having been born to wealthy parents proceed to account that I detest writing. I do so only because I am forced. I hate going to meeting at temple!
That would be the end of his record!
So Back to Nephi...
Lehi, the father of Nephi received a great revelation that caused him so much joy and fear that he cast himself on his bed when he went home. Eventually Lehi had other visions and received a commandment to take his family and leave Jerusalem. He had to leave because he preached to the people about the visions he received from God, which prophesied that Jerusalem would be destroyed. The people want him to die for making such a statement.
Nephi, as a young man, had to find out if what his father taught about the destruction of Jerusalem was true. On the other hand, Laman and Lemuel did not think that their father spoke the truth and complained about his preachings. The did not want to discover if he really had visions from God or if he was commanded to take them all away from Jerusalem. They just wanted to live out their lives in peace in Jerusalem.
What I learned from Nephi in this instance is to always be open to a new idea, even if it seems out of sort at first glance. It may prove to be beneficial--as way Lehi's command from God to leave Jerusalem before it was destroyed.. The did all leave--even the complaining elder brothers. Centuries later on the American continent, long after Nephi and the family passed away, it was revealed to the descendants the Jerusalem was in actuality destroyed because a group of people also was led away from Jerusalem around the same time as Nephi who witnessed the turmoil that led to Jerusalem's destruction who the descendants of Nephi called Mulekites.
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