THE FIRST BOOK OF NEPHI
HIS REIGN AND MINISTRY
CHAPTER 10
Lehi predicts the Babylonian captivity—He tells of the coming among the Jews of a Messiah, a Savior, a Redeemer—He tells also of the coming of the one who should baptize the Lamb of God—Lehi tells of the death and resurrection of the Messiah—He compares the scattering and gathering of Israel to an olive tree—Nephi speaks of the son of God, of the gift of the Holy Ghost, and of the need for righteousness. [Between 600 and 592 B.C.]
1 AND now I, Nephi, proceed to give an account upon these plates of my proceedings, and my reign and ministry; [ So this is Nephi's journal, as opposed to abridging Lehi's record see 1 Ne 1:17. ] wherefore, to proceed with mine account, I must speak somewhat of the things of my father, and also of my brethren.
2 For behold, it came to pass after my father had made an end of speaking the words of his dream, and also of exhorting them to all diligence, he spake unto them concerning the Jews—
3 That after they should be destroyed, even that great city Jerusalem, and many be carried away captive into Babylon, [ Jerusalem will be ransacked by Babylon, and destroyed. ] according to the own due time of the Lord, they should return again, yea, even be brought back out of captivity; [ Time of Ezra - Malachi. ] and after they should be brought back out of captivity they should possess again the land of their inheritance.
4 Yea, even six hundred
years from the time that my father left Jerusalem, [ I Haven Barlow Aug 6, 613 BC Mayan Calendar H.T. pg 55 ] a prophet would the Lord God [ Hebrew - Yahweh ( or Jehovah which means "to become" or "to exist") translated as Lord; Elohim translated as God ("the Gods") which together the words mean "He will cause Gods to be". ] raise up among the Jews—even a Messiah, or, in other words, a Savior of the world. [ First prophecy of Jesus Christ 600 BC, compare with Dan 9 were Gabriel reveals the time of the coming of the Messiah. ]
5 And he also spake concerning the prophets, how great a number had testified of these things, concerning this Messiah, [ He does not say which prophets, but he does elude to the number of them as a statement of fact. In the next verse he will reference(the source of the prophecy, the first section of the brass plates. (1 Ne. 5:11)) that the prophecy that Christ would come in 600 years and yet if we read the books in the old testament that would have been included (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Dueteromy, to Jeremiah & King Zedekiah. This would be what the Jews refer to as the Tanach or the Torah, the Prophets and the Historic and other writings according to Nibley Since Cummorah Pg 21.) no where do we read of the prophecy. So where is it? One source in the Apocryphal writing come from the Discourse on Abbaton "Cursed be the earth because of thy deeds. Thou shalt eat thy bread by the sweat of thy face, and all those who shall come out of thee shall do likewise. Behold, thou shalt die from this day onwards, because thou art earth, and thou shalt return again to the earth. Thou shalt live in the world a life of nine hundred and thirty years, and when death cometh upon thee thou shalt turn to the earth again. Thy soul shall abide in Amente, (Hades, or the spirit world) and thou shalt sit in black darkness for four and a half thousand of years . . .
AAnd when five and a half thousand of years are fulfilled I will send My beloved son into the world, and he shall abide in a virgin womb, (her name shall be Mary). She shall give Him birth on the earth in lowliness and humility . . .he shall pass thirty-three and a half years in the world, and He shall receive every attribute of humanity, sin alone excepted. He shall perform innumerable mighty deeds and wonders, He shall raise the dead, He shall drive out the devils, he shall heal those who are sick of the palsy, he shall make the lame to walk, the deaf He shall make to hear, and the dumb He shall make to speak, He shall cleanse the lepers, and [restore] the arms that are withered, and He shall open the eyes of the blind by the word of His power, In short, there shall be no limit to the miracles which He shall perform, but in spite of all these men will not believe on Him. And at length, after all these things, they shall rise up against Him, and they shall deliver Him over unto death, and they shall give Him into the hand of the Governor, that is to say, Pilate, and he shall judge Him for thy sake. He shall be in the form of a servant for thy sake. They shall smite Him in the face for thy sake. They shall treat Him with contempt and vilify him for thy sake. The shall pass sentence of condemnation upon Him as if He were a sacrilegious person. They shall mount Him upon the wood of the Cross, between two thieves, for thy sake. They shall set a crown of thorns upon His head for thy sake. They shall make Him drink vinegar and gall for thy sake. They shall drive nails into His hands and feet for thy sake. He shall yield up His Spirit on the Cross. They shall pierce his side with a spear so that water and blood shall flow forth therefrom, and it is these which shall cleanse the sins of the world. They shall lay Him in a new tomb. He shall rise from the dead on the third day. He shall go down into Amente, He shall shatter the gate of brass, and break in pieces the bolts of iron, and shall bring thee up therefrom together with all those who shall be held there in captivity with thee. For thy sake, O Adam, the son of God shall suffer all these things until He hath redeemed thee, and restored thee to Paradise, unto the place whence thou didst come, for He made Himself to be thy advocate (or, protector), when thou wast clay, before He put spirit (or, breath) into thee." There is also mention from the Life of Adam and Eve(21:9 which is referred to as the covenant of 5,500 years.; 3:6), as well as the Testament of Adam and Eve(Adam 2)] of whom he had spoken, or this Redeemer [ Jesus Christ and the resurrection. ] of the world.
6 Wherefore, all mankind were in a lost and in a fallen state, [ Notice how Lehi always ties the coming of the Messiah with the fall which doctrine was contained in the first section of the brass plates. (1 Ne. 5:11) ] and ever would be save they should rely on this Redeemer.
7 And he spake also concerning a prophet [ John The Baptist. ] who should come before the Messiah, to prepare the way of the Lord—
8 Yea, even he should go forth and cry in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, and make his paths straight; for there standeth one among you whom ye know not; and he is mightier than I, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose. And much spake my father concerning this thing.
9 And my father said he should baptize in Bethabara, [ Bethabara (“house of the Lord”), in modern-day Jordan: According to the King James Version the place where John the Baptist baptized those who came to him (John 1:28). ] beyond Jordan; and he also said he should baptize with water; even that he should baptize the Messiah with water.
10 And after he had baptized the Messiah with water, he should behold and bear record that he had baptized the Lamb of God, who should take away the sins of the world. [ N.T. Sin. ]
11 And it came to pass after my father had spoken these words he spake unto my brethren concerning the gospel which should be preached among the Jews, and also concerning the dwindling of the Jews in unbelief. [ Elder Bruce R McConkie of the Quorm of the Twelve Apostles explained why Israel was scattered and what some of the considerations are in the gathering of Israel: “Why was Israel scattered? The answer is clear; it is plain; of it there is no doubt. Our Israelite forebears were scattered because they rejected the gospel, defiled the priesthood, forsook the church, and departed from the kingdom. They were scattered because they turned from the Lord, worshipped false gods, and walked in all the ways of the heathen nations. . . . Israel was scattered for apostasy. The Lord in his wrath, because of their wickedness and rebellion, scattered them among the heathen in all the nations of the earth. ] And after they had slain the Messiah, who should come, and after he had been slain he should rise from the dead, and should make himself manifest, by the Holy Ghost, unto the Gentiles.
12 Yea, even my father spake much concerning the Gentiles, and also concerning the house of Israel, that they should be compared like unto an olive-tree,
[ So why does Lehi use an olive tree as a reference for Laman and Lemuel as he trys here to get them to repent? I am not sure, but it does appear that it got Laman and Lemuel thinking. Because seven chapters later Nephi tells us after he has seen his vision that he see's his brother discussi ng what their father had told them. See 1 Ne; 15:2. Needs dramatization so that the saints could understand see Mormon Doc pg 285-286 ] whose branches should be broken off and should be scattered upon all the face of the earth. [ Babylon, Syria, Assyria, Romans all had a hand in scattering Israel. After the Assyrian captivity Israel was destroyed as a nation of 10 tribes. ]
13 Wherefore, he said it must needs be that we should be led with one accord into the land of promise, unto the fulfilling of the word of the Lord, that we should be scattered upon all the face of the earth.
14 And after the house of Israel should be scattered they should be gathered together again; or, in fine, after the Gentiles had received the fulness of the Gospel,
[ Abr 2:9-11; Gen 10:1-5. ] the natural branches of the olive-tree, or the remnants of the house of Israel, should be grafted in, or come to the knowledge of the true Messiah, their Lord and their Redeemer. [ Speaking of the time in which we now live. ]
15 And after this manner of language did my father prophesy and speak unto my brethren, [ Nephi let's the discussion of his fathers teaching end here with just a brief summary of what he said as Nephi will give greater detail based on the dreams of Nephi and these events will be discussed in greater detail in chapters 13 and 14. ] and also many more things which I do not write in this book; for I have written as many of them as were expedient for me in mine other book.
16 And all these things, of which I have spoken, were done as my father dwelt in a tent, in the valley of Lemuel. [ What is the importance of this verse? 1) It establishes where they are. They are still at the very beginning of the journey, not somewhere in the middle. 2) It establishes clearly that Lehi, Nephi and others had a very good idea of a few basic principles that they would need for the journey which were: That the Lord was in charge, He had a purpose for them to leave, He had a vested interest in their safe arrival in the promised land. How much easier is the journey not matter the obstacle when you how that you are on the right path, headed where the Lord wants you to go and that he is there to bless you in your journey? Nephi gives some answers in vs 18 that the Lord is consistent in his ways, we can know for ourselves as well vs 19; if we do not ask we will be held accountable vs 21. Additonallly; so, a lot of times we read little statements, ‘and my father dwelled in a tent.’ Now we think, okay, Lehi, he’s camping, but the reality is, this is what is call an ancient marker. Anytime there is a temple teaching, you will be prefaced with,’ and my father dwelled in a tent.’ The michgan in the wilderness was a tented dwelling. Okay, my father dwelled in a tent, is referring me back to the Michgan in the wilderness. The Tabernacle in the wilderness. so, He’s given me a teaching on all those… So in other words for those who have eyes to see, if he says, and my father dwelled in a tent, you know that there’s something right around that scripture he’s teaching you, that is to help you ascend to the promise land. ]
17 And it came to pass after I, Nephi, having heard all the words of my father, [ He heard what his father had said and was very intrigued. ] concerning the things which he saw in a vision, [ He knows that it was God that had shown them unto his father. ] and also the things which he spake by the power of the Holy Ghost, which power he received by faith on the son of God—and the son of God was the Messiah who should come—I, Nephi, was desirous also that I might see, [ I guess I Nephi will just go ask to see the same things; notice how this is no big deal to him. But he does put in the effort to ask and to learn. He wants to learn first hand not just take his fathers word on it. Does this suggest anything for us? How much faith does Nephi have? How close is he living to God to know that he will just answer? Can we do the same with enough faith? ] and hear, and know of these things, by the power of the Holy Ghost, which is the gift of God unto all those who diligently seek him, [ So here is a demonstration of the difference between Nephi and his brother's. Nephi goes and asks. Are we like Nephi or are we like his brothers? Do we wait for everything to be given to us - spoon feed by others? ] as well in times of old as in the time that he should manifest himself unto the children of men.
18 For he [ God. ] is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever; [ God is consistent, he has to be otherwise he would cease to be God ] and the way is prepared for all men from the foundation of the world, if it so be that they repent and come unto him.
19 For he that diligently seeketh shall find; [ If we ask with constant effort to know; we are attentive to the spirit and persistent in asking he will answer. So Nephi is saying that this is what he has come to know, as a result he is going to ask for the same revelation that his father saw. Nephi is teaching us that there is a process here and he is going to follow that process. ] and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost, as well in these times as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to come; wherefore, the course of the Lord is one eternal round.
20 Therefore remember, [ Lest you forget, or think you will not, take heed. ] O man, for all thy doings thou shalt be brought into judgment. [ If you don't bother to ask then the judgment will be upon you, you will be held accountable. ]
21 Wherefore, if ye have sought to do wickedly in the days of your probation, [ Mortality. ] then ye are found unclean before the judgment-seat of God; and no unclean thing can dwell with God; [ Joseph Smith stated that for an individual 'to dwell with God one must have developed the character of God' (TPJS P. 216). The change of character is a product of agency and choice, not miracle or ordinance. The improvement and development of character is the power of exaltation, as one will choose to put off the natural man and become a saint. (2 Ne. 2:5; 3 Ne. 27:19; 1 Ne. 15:34; Alma 11:37; Alma 7:21; Hel. 8:25; Moses 6:57; Eph. 5:5-6) Again, the Prophet Joseph taught:
...he that has made no improvement will be cast out as an unprofitable servant, while the faithful will enjoy everlasting honors. Therefore, we earnestly implore the grace of our Father to rest upon you, through Jesus Christ His son, that you may not faint in the hour of temptation, nor be overcome in the time of persecution. (TPJS, p. 68). ] wherefore, ye must be cast off forever.