Nephi and Lehi Art Nephis Brothers and an Angel

We ofttimes think of Nephi, who was "…born of goodly parents…" (ane Nephi ane:ane), as the youngest of iv sons. His older brothers were Laman, Lemuel, and Sam. Both Laman and Lemuel murmured not but confronting their begetter (1 Nephi two:11) just also against their faithful younger brothers, Sam and Nephi. Laman and Lemuel spoke many hard words confronting their younger siblings and even struck them with rods (1 Nephi three:28). During their bounding main journey, they harshly kept Nephi bound with cords for four days (1 Nephi 18:11-22).

After they safely arrived in the promised land and their male parent died, Laman and Lemuel defendant Nephi of trying "…to rule over… " them and take their land and belongings, so they decided to impale him (two Nephi 5:three). Under such lethal threats and prompted by warnings from the Lord, Nephi fled into the uninhabited wilderness, taking "…my family, and also Zoram and his family, and Sam, mine elder brother and his family unit, and Jacob and Joseph, my younger brethren, and also my sisters,…" (2 Nephi v:six). Nephi led those who followed him so finer that they asked him to exist "…their king…," only Nephi sagely declined their proposal (ii Nephi 5:xviii). He acknowledged to existence their "…ruler…" and "…teacher…" (2 Nephi 5:nineteen), but at that place was only i true King—the Messiah—who "…shall reign over the business firm of Jacob for ever;…" (Luke 1:33).

What kind of ruler, teacher, and older brother was Nephi? His actions speak as powerfully as his words. His leadership method was to invite, to teach, and to build. He compelled no ane to go with him into the wilderness. He took only those—including his sisters—"…who believed in the warnings and revelations of God;…" (ii Nephi five:6). Those who freely chose to go his followers were then instructed on how "…to exist industrious, and to labor with their easily…." (2 Nephi 5:17). Every bit he explained, "…I did teach my people to build buildings, and work in all mode of forest, of iron, and of copper, and of brass, and of steel, and of gilded, and of silver, and of precious ores, which were in great affluence." (2 Nephi 5:fifteen). Nephi was an incredibly skilled craftsman who openly shared his many divinely taught talents. His purposes in teaching these skills were always to foster faith and righteousness. Instead of edifice palaces for his personal comfort, he "…did build a temple;…" (two Nephi v:16), wherein his family and friends could offering sacrifices unto God. In these sacred buildings he devoted much of his time to education, "For I Nephi, was constrained to speak unto them, according to his word;…" (2 Nephi 4:14).

Instead of glorying in his personal accomplishments, Nephi humbly best-selling his own weaknesses: "…O wretched man that I am! Yea, my eye sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth considering of my iniquities." (2 Nephi four:17). He diligently prayed that "…I volition elevator up my vocalisation unto thee; yea, I will cry unto thee, my God, the stone of my righteousness…. My voice shall forever arise up unto thee, my rock and mine everlasting God. Amen." (two Nephi 4:35). He also encouraged his people to report and ponder the writings of earlier holy prophets: "…For my soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my eye pondereth them, and writeth them for the learning and profit of my children." (2 Nephi iv:15). Nephi was kickoff and foremost a humble servant of God who taught by example, by scriptures, past preaching, and by inviting all to come up unto God.

Throughout his life, Nephi continually honored his begetter. Every bit they left Jerusalem, Nephi believed and obeyed all of his father's words (1 Nephi 2:16). Even during their travels in the wilderness when Lehi murmured against God because they had zippo to swallow (1 Nephi xvi:20), Nephi still respected his male parent by making a bow out of woods and asking his male parent, "…Whither shall I go to obtain food?" (ane Nephi sixteen:23)

After arriving in the country of promise, Lehi personally counseled and prophesied to all those who had travelled with him. For case, Joseph, his "…last-built-in…." (2 Nephi iii:1), received a wonderful hope: "…for thy seed shall non be destroyed…." (2 Nephi 3:23).

When blessing Jacob, Lehi refers to him with the titles "…my kickoff-built-in in the days of my tribulation…" (2 Nephi 2:1) and "…my start-born in the wilderness,…" (two Nephi two:2, 11). His male parent'due south repeated employ of this title implies that "the right of the firstborn is his [Jacob's]" (Deuteronomy 21:17). Lehi went on to prophesy even greater blessings for Jacob:

"…I know that thou art redeemed, because of the righteousness of thy Redeemer; for thou hast beheld that in the fullness of time he cometh to bring salvation unto men. And thou hast beheld in thy youth his glory; wherefore, k art blest even as they unto whom he shall minister in the flesh;..." (2 Nephi 2:3-4)

In this patriarchal approving Lehi likens Jacob to those disciples who will personally walk the world with the Messiah.

How did Nephi react to his much younger brothers—perhaps 15 to 25 years of age deviation—receiving such heavenly promises? Later on their father'southward death, Nephi lovingly cared for these brothers and "…did consecrate both Jacob and Joseph, that they should be priests and teachers over the country of my people." (2 Nephi v:26). Nephi did not rule over, belittle, or ignore them; he nurtured them to get righteous disciples of God.

Concerning Jacob, Nephi went even further—he included his younger brother's words as part of the book of 2 Nephi. By commandment, the small plates of Nephi were to contain only "…that which is pleasing unto God…." (2 Nephi 5:32).

In striving to accomplish this commandment, Nephi authored approximately 42.5% of the content in 2 Nephi. For most of this book, Nephi engraved the most inspirational words of three other prophets: Isaiah (who accounts for xxx% of the content), Lehi (who adds 13.5%), and Jacob (who contributes nigh 14%). Including Jacob equally one of the authors recorded onto these precious plates showed that Nephi respected and learned from the teachings of his much younger brother.

The doctrines Jacob taught in 2 Nephi: six, 7, eight, 9, 10 were profound. On the outset mean solar day of his teaching, he interpreted the words of Isaiah that Nephi had requested him to recite. Additionally, Jacob taught the post-obit:

• Jewish history and their future gathering;

• The ministry, amende, crucifixion, resurrection, and redemption is made possible through the Holy One of State of israel who is the keeper of heaven's gate;

• The help that would be received from the gentiles;

• Details about the latter-day restoration;

• The penalties and torments of sin.

Jacob'south second twenty-four hour period of pedagogy began with a remarkable revelation—"Christ" would be the future name of the awaited Messiah (2 Nephi x:3). During the previous night, Jacob had received this knowledge directly from an angel. In all of Nephi'southward earlier writings, other Old Testament names, titles, and concepts were used to refer to the All-powerful Messiah. From this point on, the Nephites openly knew and taught about their Redeemer by using His New Testament proper name: Jesus Christ. Jacob concluded his sermon past eloquently admonishing all who heard or would hear his voice to "…reconcile yourselves to the will of God,…" and gain conservancy through the Savior's grace (2 Nephi 10:24-25). As his father had prophesied concerning his commencement-born in the wilderness, Jacob was, indeed, a specially called disciple of Jesus Christ.

Nephi was the empowering prophet who encouraged and preserved his younger blood brother's revelations. Equally we study what is written in the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, we should acquire not only from what is said, but as well past carefully pondering the actions of those inspirational prophets. President Russell M. Nelson has written that Nephi has had a corking impact on his life and remains one of his personal heroes: "Nephi was 'a multifaceted genius' whose life and mission were destined to bless all people in our mean solar day" (Trent Toone, "15 LDS general authorities and their Book of Mormon heroes," Deseret News, January. 7, 2016).

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Source: https://ca.churchofjesuschrist.org/nephi-the-empowering-older-brother

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