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)

1 Kings 9-10

Posted on July 27, 2013 by zachridd Standard Reply

1 Kings 9-10

Chapter 9: Promises of Blessings

The Lord again appears to Solomon and promises him great blessings if the Israelites are obedient and great cursing’s if they chose to forsake the Lord. Solomon reigns with power, authority and splendor. He is able to levy a tribute on all the non-Israelite residents and starts his own Navy.

Chapter 10: Queen of Sheba Visits King Solomon

Because of the great success of King Solomon as nearby Queen, the Queen of Sheba hears about this and decides to see for herself, because she did not believe what she heard. So she travels to meet King Solomon, and with her she travels as a train of camels carrying all manner of riches. When she arrives and meets King Solomon she says;

“…It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom. Howbeit I believe not the words until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame I heard” (1 Kings 10:6-7)

How often do people down play something they heard? Never. Which means that until you met King Solomon in person you would never be able to understand the kind of wisdom and wealth that he was in possession of.

It says that King Solomon exceeded the wealth of any other leader in the world at that time. It goes on to say that the entire world longed to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart. He was so well liked that every year he would receive gifts of gold, silver and fine things.

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!