First Book of Nephi
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| Books of the Book of Mormon |
The First Book of Nephi (pronounced nee-fie) is the first book of the Book of Mormon, considered in Mormonism to be a work of scripture. The full title of the book is The First Book of Nephi: His Reign and Ministry. The book is also often referred to as "1 Nephi". It is purportedly a first-person narrative, beginning around 600 BC, of an ancient prophet named Nephi. The book of 2 Nephi is a continuation of this narrative.
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Narrative
The book begins in Jerusalem under King Zedekiah where Nephi's father Lehi has a vision, wherein he sees God and Christ and the twelve apostles. In the vision, he sees the future destruction of Jerusalem. Lehi, upon receiving this revelation, begins to preach to the people in Jerusalem. Like many other prophets of that period, the people rejected his teachings and attempted to kill him.
God commands Lehi to leave with his family in a dream. They stay in the wilderness outside of the city for some time. During this time, Nephi prays and receives an answer to his prayers from the Lord.
Lehi is commanded to send his four sons (Laman, Lemuel, Sam, and Nephi) back to Jerusalem to retrieve the brass plates. The brass plates are a record similar to what the Old Testament is, owned by Laban, a powerful leader in Jerusalem. Nephi returns with his brothers and after several failed attempts, where Laban even tries to steal Lehi's property and murder his sons, become frustrated. Laman and Lemuel take out their frustration by beating Nephi. An angel appears and commands Laman and Lemuel to stop beating Nephi and return to retrieve the plates. Nephi returns alone, find Laban passed out from drunkenness, and kills him with his own sword as directed by the Spirit of God. He then disguises himself as Laban and fools Zoram, a servant of Laban, into taking the plates outside the city to his brothers. Zoram, discovering Nephi's trick, agrees to travel with Lehi and his family and they return together with the plates.
After receiving the brass plates, Lehi spends time studying them. He discovers it contains a genealogy of himself, and that he is a descendant of Joseph, the son of Jacob. It also the contains the five books of Moses and even some writings by the contemporary prophet Jeremiah.
Lehi's sons return to Jerusalem a second time, as directed by the Lord through the prophet Lehi, to retrieve the family of Ishmael. Meeting Ishmael, they convince him and his family to leave Jerusalem together with Lehi's family. On the journey back to camp, Laman and Lemuel and some members of Ishmaels family rebel. They want to return back to Jerusalem. After a stern lecture by Nephi, where he reminds them of the prophecies and offers them a choice, they tie him up and leave him to die in the desert. However, Nephi is able to escape from the ropes. Upon finding the group, Laman and Lemuel try again to hurt Nephi, but they are softened by the daughters of Ishmael and ask for forgiveness from Nephi.
Returning again to camp, Lehi has a dream where he sees the vision of the tree of life. Relating this vision to his children, he expounds on it by teaching about the Redeemer and the need to follow his counsel. Nephi turns to enquire of the Lord about the vision. Nephi is swept away by the spirit and sees the vision his father had and is given an explanation. Nephi is also shown many past and future events, including the birth, ministry, and death of Jesus Christ. He also sees Columbus travelling across the ocean, the American nation, the founding of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and future events that he is forbidden to write about because John the Revelator is to write about them in the Bible. Most importantly, Nephi sees the future of his generations and the generations of Laman and Lemuel. Whereas his people will have the gospel and will ultimately be destroyed for wickedness, the children of Laman and Lemuel will be raised without a knowledge of the gospel, survive the generations, and be taught by the Book of Mormon and the future church.
After Nephi's vision, he sees Laman and Lemuel, who are arguing over the meaning of Lehi's vision. Nephi chastises them for not asking the Lord for the interpretation, and explains the point they were disputing. He pleads with them to soften their hearts and submit themselves to the Lord.
After the sons of Lehi marry the daughters of Ishmael, a "ball of curious workmanship" is discovered at Lehi's tent door. Using the directors on the ball, they begin journeying eastward along the Red Sea. As the travel along the banks of the Red Sea, Nephi's steel bow breaks while hunting. Upon hearing the news, the entire camp begain to complain and speak against the Lord for their misfortune, including Lehi. Nephi builds a new bow and arrows out of wood, and then enquires of Lehi where to hunt. Humbled, Lehi repents and turns to the Lord, and Nephi is able to find food for the camp. Looking on the ball, they discovered a message that caused them to "fear and tremble exceedingly". The ball works by their faith. As long as they are faithful, it will lead them through the most fertile parts of the land. If they are not, it will not function properly and they will be left to their own devices.
Ishmael dies on their journey near a place called "Nahum". This is one of the few places listed in the Book of Mormon that relate to the Old World. In mourning, Ishmaels daughters complain against Lehi and Nephi, and desired to return to Jerusalem. Laman and Lemuel decide to kill Lehi and Nephi, but the voice of the Lord spoke many words to them and chastised them severely, causing them to repent.
Arriving in a place they call Bountiful, on the borders of the sea, they set up a camp. After many days, the voice of the Lord comes to Nephi and commands him to go up the mountain. Once on the mountain, the Lord instructs Nephi to build a ship, and describes how to build a ship and make the tools needed. Nephi returns to camp and begins working to build the ship. Laman and Lemueal see Nephi and mock him for trying to achieve an impossible task. Nephi lectures them about the strength of the Lord and how impossible things are possible when the Lord commands it. Being filled with the Spirit, he commands Laman and Lemuel not to touch him or they would die instantly. He also commands them to assist in building the ship. Laman and Lemuel repent again, and begin helping Nephi build the ship. The Lord commands Nephi to touch them, saying it will not kill them. He touches them, causing a shock, and they do not die. Lamand and Lemuel proclaim to Nephi, "We know of a surety that the Lord is with thee".
After completing the ship, the voice of the Lord goes to Lehi and commands him to load his family and supplies on the ship. They depart on the ocean. Many days later, Laman and Lemuel and the sons of Ishmael begin partying and dancing and singing and being rude. Nephi, fearing that the Lord would be angry with them, spoke to them. They get upset with Nephi and tie him up. The compass--the ball of curious workmanship--ceases to function, and they get caught in a terrible storm. At the pleading of their wives, and for fear of sinking, Laman and Lemuel release Nephi. Nephi prays, and the storm stops, leaving a great calm. Many days later, they arrive in the promised land, on the American continent.
Upon arriving in America, they begin building farms and raising livestock they find native in the land. Nephi is commanded by the Lord to make the small and large plates of Nephi. On the small plates, he is to write the spiritual record of the people, and the more plain and precious parts. On the large plates, he writes the history of the people, including their genealogy.
The last parts of First Nephi contain some teachings from Nephi to his people concerning Jesus Christ. He quotes Isaiah chapters 48 and 49 from the Old Testament. He ends the first book showing how all the ancient prophets have testified of Christ, and how it is only through Christ that one can be redeemed from the fall of Adam and their sins.
Doctrines
First Nephi contains many vital doctrines to Mormonism in general.
Nephi states many times while making the record that he intends to show the mercy of the Lord and convince the readers of the necessity and divinity of Jesus Christ. He shows how Laman and Lemuel, though they rebel many times, repent and are frankly forgiven by the Lord. He shows how the Lord is willing to answer prayers, protect those who trust him, and guide those who are willing to obey. He begins with this message; and he ends with it as well.
Included is a model of how prophets are called and how they operate. For instance, both Lehi and Nephi received their callings by revelation and visions from the Lord. This is not much different from how Joseph Smith, Jr. received his calling. Nephi also expounds on the doctrine that all prophets teach of Christ by quoting Isaiah and other prophets.
Nephi also teaches that through faith, the impossible can be done. "I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandment unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." (1 Nephi 3:7) He teaches that God is all-powerful, and that man can do all things that the Lord desires them to do.
Internal Prophecies
Many prophecies are made that are fulfilled within the pages of the Book of Mormon. The most important prophecy concerns the destruction of the Nephite people, which occurred, according to the Book of Mormon, about 400 AD.
External Prophecies
There are several prophecies that are made that can only be fulfilled outside of the Book of Mormon. Key among these are the prophecies concerning the birth, life, and death of the Savior. Nephi records that Jesus would be born to a virgin, conceived by the Spirit; that Jesus would be baptized; That there would be twelve disciples; that he would heal the sick and bedeviled; that he would be judged by the world; and that he would be crucified.
Nephi also prophesies concerning the future of the American continent. He sees people flee from Europe to settle in America; that the Bible (a record from the Jews) would travel among the people; that the people settling in America would drive the indigenous people out of the land; that the settlers would overpower Europe; the discovery and translation of the Book of Mormon; and that the apostle John the Revelator would write concerning the final days.
External link
- The book of 1 Nephi (http://scriptures.lds.org/1_ne/contents) on the LDS Church web site
- trivia from 1 Nephi (http://www.funtrivia.com/dir/11578.html)