1 Nephi 18

Posted on September 6, 2014 by zachridd Standard Reply

1 Nephi 18: Crossing the Sea to the Promised Land

Nephi and his family continue the construction of the ship, a ship that was not built; “…after the manner of men…” (1 Nephi 18:2) Nephi finishes the ship and sees that it; “…was good, and that the workmanship, thereof was exceedingly fine…” (1 Nephi 18:4) After Nephi’s brothers saw the craftsmanship of the ship, they did humble themselves before the Lord.

Nephi explains that while in the wilderness (before building the ship), Lehi [Nephi’s Father] had two sons ‘Jacob’ and ‘Joseph’. Nephi and his entire family loaded up the ship with all their provisions and went forth across the ocean as the wind blew. After traveling the sea for the space of many days, Laman and Lemuel and their families began to dance and sing with “…much rudeness…” (1 Nephi 18:9) In other words, they were rioting and rebelling. Nephi was filled with fear that the Lord would be angry with them, and for this purpose they might be swallowed up in the sea. Nephi began to speak with his brothers, to try and persuade them to repent of their actions; this of course only angered his rebel brothers.

“…it came to pass that Laman and Lemuel did take me [Nephi] and bind me with cords, and they did treat me with much harshness; …it came to pass that after they had bound me insomuch that I could not move, the compass [The Liahona], which had been prepared of the Lord, did cease to work.” (1 Nephi 18:11-12) Because of the wickedness of Laman and Lemuel, they did not know which direction to travel and their arose a great storm and tempest that caused the ship to be pushed back for three days, and on the fourth day the storm worsened.

“…after we had been driven back upon the waters for the space of four days, my brethren began to see that the judgments of God were upon them, and that they must perish save that they should repent of their iniquities; wherefore, they came unto me, and loosed the bands which were upon my wrists, and behold they had swollen exceedingly; and also mine ankles were much swollen, and great was the soreness thereof. Nevertheless, I did look unto my God, and I did praise him all the day long; and I did not murmur against the Lord because of mine afflictions.” (1 Nephi 18:15-16) Even though Nephi was miserable, broken down physically and mentally… he praised the Lord!

Laman and Lemuel had caused the entire family to be stricken with great affliction, but even with this, they would only soften their hearts if they knew they would be on the brink of destruction. The Lord knows each and every one of us, and He knows that sometimes we need horrible things to happen to us in order for us to wake up and hear his crying voice. Laman and Lemuel both had to be brought right up to the point of destruction in order to realize the power of God and repent of their actions.

Laman and Lemuel loose the bands of Nephi, and Nephi did take the compass; “…and it did work whither I desired it. And it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord; and after I had prayed the winds did cease, and the storm did cease, and there was a great calm….it came to pass that I, Nephi, did guide the ship, that we sailed again towards the promised land.” (1 Nephi 18:22) The Lord wants us to be obedient and sometimes He has to use extreme measures in order for us to hear His voice and follow His command.

“…it came to pass that after we had sailed for the space of many days we did arrive at the promised land; and we went forth upon the land, and did pitch our tents; and we did call it the promised land… and we began to plant seeds; yea, we did put all our seeds into the earth, which we had brought from the land of Jerusalem. And it came to pass that they did grow exceedingly; wherefore, we were blessed in abundance.” (1 Nephi 18:24) Because they hearkened unto the voice of the Lord they were delivered and did arrive in the Promised Land as the Lord had promised. In the Land of Promise they did find; “…beasts in the forests of every kind, both the cow and the ox, and the ass and the horse, and the goat and the wild goat, and all manner of wild animals, which were for the use of men. And we did find all manner of ore, both of gold, and of silver, and of copper.” (1 Nephi 18:25)

Psalms 113-114

Posted on August 1, 2013 by zachridd Standard Reply

Psalms 113-114

Chapter 113: Who is like unto the Lord?

The Lord is high above all nations and His glory is above the heavens! He helps the barren women have children to become a mother; He is forever and should always be praised! Who truly, is like unto the Lord?

Chapter 114: The Lord Governs the Sea and the Land

The Lord governs the sea and the land for the blessing of His children. He can make the “…mountains skip[ped] like rams, and the little hills like lambs…” (Psalm 114:4)

2 Samuel 9-10

Posted on July 27, 2013 by zachridd Standard Reply

2 Samuel 9-10

Chapter 9: Restoration of the Land of Saul

David decides that he wants to honor Jonathan for being his friend and decides to restore the land that once belonged to Saul, to his family. So Saul calls for a search of the family of Saul, they (his servants) find out that Jonathan’s son is still alive and he brought before the king. Mephibosheth was Jontathan’s son and he was given Ziba as his servant, eating at the kings table and eating the king’s bread he was honored.

Chapter 10: Israel Defeats: Amonites and the Syrians

The king of the people of Ammon dies and King David decides to send his comfort to the new king, Ammon’s son. The new king was named Hanun and when the messengers of comfort and peace came into the land of Ammon, the people of Ammon begin to tell Hanun that David is sending “comforters” who really are spies to spy out the city. So Hanun has the servants humiliated. The servants come back to David and tell him what has happened. David responds by defeating the armies of Ammon and the Syrians who were helping them. Although the Syrians decided to back off before they were really defeated, for fear of Israel.

Joshua 13-14

Posted on July 26, 2013 by zachridd Standard Reply

Joshua 13-14

Chapter 13: Inheritance: Reuben, Gad and Manasseh

The Israelites are following the commandments of God and are doing well, however there is land to still be taken. Joshua at this point is “…old and stricken in years…” (Joshua 13:1). The lands are yet to be possessed, and some of the inhabitants are yet to be expelled and/or killed. The Inheritances of Reuben, Gad and half of the tribe of Manasseh are outlined.

The Divison of the Land east of Jordan (13:8-33)

Chapter 14: Land Divided

The Land is divided (by lot) among nine and a half tribes. Caleb, for its faithfulness receives the land of Caleb as a reward.

Joshua 14:6-15 – Caleb was part of the original spies who were sent into the Promised Land, Caleb reminds Joshua that he brought back good news, saying that with the Lord they could conquer the people, while the other spies brought back an evil report. Because of this Caleb is rewarded.

Deuteronomy 33-34

Posted on July 25, 2013 by zachridd Standard Reply

Deuteronomy 33-34

Chapter 33: Moses Blesses the Sons of Israel

Moses blesses each of the tribes of Israel; Levi is blessed to teach the Lord’s judgments and his law, Joseph is blessed above all. Through the lineage of Joseph, shall the tribes of Israel be gathered in the latter days. The tribe of Joseph and its descendants are those of the Book of Mormon. The people of the Ancient Americas who came over to the Americas around 600 b.c.

Chapter 34: Moses Dies

Moses is taken by the Lord to see the Promised Land. It does not tell us how, but my guess by spirit that Moses sees the Promised Land. The land that God had promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Moses was the greatest prophet of Israel (verse 10), he died at the age of 120 years old. But when he died, he died without problems, and void of any disease or signs of illness. (verse 5-7). He was buried in the land of Moab, against Bethpeor. But to this day no one knows the exact location of his burial site. For information on the birth of Moses; refer to Exodus 2.

Deuteronomy 1-2

Posted on July 25, 2013 by zachridd Standard Reply

Deuteronomy 1-2

Chapter 1: Israel during 40 Years

Moses recounts the stories and things that had happened to them during their 40 year march through the wilderness. Just like in Numbers 11, Moses again calls leaders. These leaders however (in comparison with the “70 Elders of Israel” he chose in 11, are more like government officials than religious authorities.

This chapter also recounts the story of sending spies into the land of Canaan. The Israelites plan to go in and defeat the Amorites, but the Lord tells them, that he would not be with them and they are chased out and weep to the Lord. He doesn’t listen.

Chapter 2: Israel Moves toward Promised Land

Israel moves forward (a recount of history by Moses) to the Promised Land. They pass around Seir, then on to a territory of the descendants of Esau. The Lord commanded the Israelites to not provoke them to war, and to pay for any food/water that they consumed. They pass on from the land of Esau and go to Moab. The Lord again commands the children of Israel to not provoke the Moabites to war, because they were descendants of Lot. After one generation of Israelites die, they once again go to Moab and are once again told to not provoke them.

Moses sends messengers to Sihon, the King of Heshbon with a peace offering, asking for permission to pass through his land. Well Sihon refuses (because the Lord hardened his heart) and the Lord commands his people to kill Sihon and his people and take his land. They accomplish this by killing everything!

Numbers 13-14

Posted on July 25, 2013 by zachridd Standard Reply

Numbers 13-14

Chapter 13: Twelve Spies to the Land of Canaan

The Lord commands Moses to gather the strongest warrior from each of the Twelve Tribes of Israel to go out and seek the Land of Canaan.

These are the Twelve:

The Tribe of Reuben: Shammua the son of Zaccur
The Tribe of Simeon: Shaphat the son of Hori
The Tribe of Judah: Caleb the son of Jephunneh
The Tribe of Issachar: Igal the son of Joseph
The Tribe of Ephraim: Oshea the son of Nun
The Tribe of Benjamin: Palti the son of Raphu
The Tribe of Zebulun: Gaddiel the son of Sodi
The Tribe of Joseph, namely the Tribe of Manasseh: Gaddi the son of Susi
The Tribe of Dan: Ammiel the son of Gemalli
The Tribe of Asher: Sethur the son of Michael
The Tribe of Naphtali: Nahbi the son of Vophsi
The Tribe of Gad: Geuel the son of Machi

These are the men who went in search for the Land of Canaan. Moses calls Oshea the son of Nun, Jehoshua. They are commanded to go southward toward the Mountain.

The twelve travel to the land of Hebron and find only a people of great number and power. There the sons of Anak dwelt, whose names were: Ahiman, Sheshai and Talmai. Hebron was built 7 years be Zoan in Egypt. The twelve travels back home (after 40 days of searching) with the news, but exclaim that they are stronger, because in comparison they were as grasshoppers, because of the giant size of these humans.

Chapter 14: Israel Murmurs against Moses

Israel begins to Murmur, AGAIN. This time they claim that it would be better for them to turn around and head back into Egypt. Joshua and Caleb, however give a good report of the land of Canaan, unlike the “evil” report given in Chapter 13. Moses tells them, that the adults of the congregation of Israel shall not enter the Promised Land (insinuating that they will not go to the land of Canaan right away). Some rebels in the group, try to go by themselves and are slain by Canaanites and Amalekites