Week #2 part #1

 Week#2

    


 Today I will be covering what I have learned in 1st Nephi, Chapters 6-10 of the Book of Mormon.

     Chapter 6 vs 1-6.  Nephi finds out that the plates contain holy writings, their written language and his family history. He decides to only write that he is a descendant of Joseph to save on time and materials. He decides to keep the plates he is writing for the use of holy writings and of spiritual revaluations. He wants to make sure his posterity knows of his experiences and testimony of God.

    Chapter 7 vs 1-15 Lehi again sends his sons back to the city of Jerusalem. This time he sends them to bring Ishmael and his family of daughters, so his sons may have wives.  They first go and tell Ishmael of the visions and he believes and joins Nephi and his brothers and they leave the city. 

*side note, for the first time in the writings Laman and Lemuel did not complain.  lol, a woman can have a powerful influence on what a man is willing to do.

vs 16-21 The brothers again become angry and want to return to their home. They tie Nephi up and talk about leaving him to be killed by wild beasts. Nephi prays and the ropes come loose.  
  They again are angry and they want to kill him, the daughters of Ishmael convince them to not kill Nephi.  Laman and Lemuel ask Nephi for his forgiveness and they continue on their journey. They reach the rest of the family and Lehi offers thanks to God in the form of a sacrifice. 

Chapter 8

vs 1-17 They gather seeds and grains of every kind and food for their long journey. Lehi has another vision. This time he sees a tree, we call the tree of life.  The tree represents the love of God. He takes of the fruit of that tree and finds that is very good. He wants his family to try the fruit. Most of his family does come and partake of it. He starts to worry about Laman and Lemuel, he also wants them to try the fruit and join the family, they will not. 

vs 18-23 A mist of darkness arises (confusion, temptation and strife) many people who were headed to the tree are confused and lost in that mist. They wander off into strange roads or are lost. He also sees a group of people in the darkness that cling to a rod made of iron. That iron rod leads to the tree and it helps people to reach the tree although in parts they can't see because of all the darkness around them. 

vs 24-38 After some of the people who have clung to the iron rod try the fruit of the tree, they become ashamed and they leave. In vs 26 he discribes a "great and spacious" building and inside are people who make fun of those eating the fruit.  Some of those who have eaten the fruit decide they would rather be accepted by those in the building. (the building represents the world and opinions of others)

Chapter 9

vs 1-6  Nephi tells how the plates he has been asked to write will be an account of his expiriences. He will briefly talk about his father's visions and experience but he wants to save the writing to share his feeling and spiritual experiences to tell his children about God.

Chapter 10

vs 1-10 Nephi tells a bit more about what his Father's visions for the destruction of Jerusalem. Then after the city is destroyed a Messiah will be born in Jerusalem among the Jews.  Jesus will come to redeem the world from sin. Before Jesus is born though, there will be another that comes before him who will baptize Jesus.

vs 11-14 The Messiah will be crucified and then arise again from the dead. The 12 tribes of Israel (Jacob's twelve son's posterity) will be scattered all over the world and be found on every continent. They will also be lead to the land of promise and at some time they would be gathered again before the returning of Christ. 

vs 15-20 Nephi desires to see and to know through the spirit what his father saw in his vision about the tree and the fruit. Nephi testifies that through his knowledge and love of the Savior how we can know his mysteries if we desire and ask him. He talks about how Christ wants to save all who will turn to him.

****For anyone reading my blog online, I would like you to know that I am writing this for my Book of Mormon religious studies class at school. I will be going over each chapter in the Book of Mormon from Nephi Chapter 1- Alma Chapter 29.  If you are interested in getting a free copy of the Book of Mormon please call 1-877-537-0003 and feel free to write me a note about your findings or questions. I am not a scripture scholar or paid religious leader. I do teach a weekly class to the 13 year old youth in my area and I do this weekly for free. All teaching positions and clergy in my church work for free. These are my notes and the best of my understanding of what I am learning. Please be forgiving of any mistakes I make in my writing or interpretation. These are not the views of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints or it's members, these views are not doctrine. Please do not judge harshly my church for my lack of understanding or the way I may phrase things. ***