Our Own Strength

In the third and fourth chapter of First Nephi, there is an interesting account of the return of the brothers to Jerusalem and their acquisition of the brass plates. Yes, this is a familiar story, but I think that some of the details in it warrant further discussion.

Background

In the first part of the Book of Mormon, Lehi, a prophet in Jerusalem at the time of Jeremiah, is commanded to leave the city. The Lord knew that the time prophesied by Jeremiah (and Isaiah, and others...) was about to enfold. Lehi, having seen in vision the destruction of Jerusalem, gathers his partially-willing family and supplies, and heads out of town into the wilderness bordering the Red Sea.

Let's assume for a minute that "the borders near the shore of the Red Sea" simply refers to the Gulf of Aqaba, a jut of the Red Sea on the east side of the Sinai peninsula. This is a distance of almost 180 miles. When Laban and Lemuel complain that it is hard, they have a point -- it's a significant journey each way! Lehi reminds his sons that the Lord commanded it. This great distance also gives some insight into Sariah's fears in chapter 6.


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Nephi accepts the assignment on simple faith, believing that the Lord will make it possible for them to accomplish the task.

The Interesting Question

Now comes the real question.  The Lord knew that they would need the plates as they were leaving Jerusalem.  Why then did he not have them get the plates while still there, or while they were closer to the city?

Here's my speculation on this:

• We read of Laban's character - he was a thief, and an attempted murderer.  It may have been out of safety that the family should be established out in the wilderness before the attempt could be made.
• The family's mindset needed to be sufficiently separated from their life at Jerusalem.
• And my favorite answer: Nephi needed to learn how to rely on the Lord, how to receive spiritual guidance, and needed to learn something about himself.

Attempt 1 - All we have to do is ask....

When they thought it would be hard, they were probably only thinking of the journey, and not considering that getting the plates might be the hard part.   "Oh, so we have to do a long, grueling journey, to pick up the plates from someone."

It seems that they gave very little thought to their first attempt to get the plates, relying on chance alone to determine the unlucky one.  Even Nephi, it seems, doesn't put any spiritual energy at all into it.

Of course, Laban doesn't go for it, and sends his guards to kill Laman, who high-tails it out of there.

This makes me think of the First Battle of Bull Run in the Civil War.  The common belief was that the battle was going to be easy (a laugh even), and that the Confederate Army wouldn't put up much resistance.  Some of the wealthy Washington elites, including some congressmen and their families, came to picnic and watch the battle!



The Union Army was defeated soundly, and had to retreat quickly (and were blocked by the panicked civilians in their carriages).  They were green, they were raw, they didn't consider the rebels to be much of a challenge.  They tuck their tail between their legs and head back to Washington in disgrace.

Laban turned out to be far more reluctant to give them the plates, and far more dangerous than they had ever imagined.  The sons lick their wounds, they are depressed and about to return in shame, when Nephi comes up with a plan.

Attempt 2 - My Way (good, my way... which way's my way??)

It seems like a reasonable plan, a good old-fashioned swap.  Nephi knows he's on the Lord's errand, and uses this fact to make the case for his plan.  It takes some convincing, but Laman and Lemuel (surprisingly!) come on board.  However, even though they're on the Lord's errand, they still only rely on their own strength.  When it doesn't work (not surprisingly, considering Laban's character), Laman and Lemuel go ballistic.

Perhaps up until this point, the idea of going back to Jerusalem must have seemed like a real possibility to Laman and Lemuel.  Now their family property is gone, and the avenue of return is truly closed.  (It's brought up periodically later until they actually board the boat, but after this they know there's nothing left to which they can return.)  They take out their grief and anger and fear on Sam and Nephi, and act in disbelief to the message of the heavenly messenger.  They honestly believe now that there is no way to succeed.

Attempt 3 - The Lord's Way

Nephi goes this time, with no specific plan other than to follow the Spirit.  His temporal avenues gone, knowing no way he could accomplish the task using his strength, he must rely completely on the Lord.  The Lord prepares the way, and he succeeds.

Nephi previously had prayed and received an answer about leaving Jerusalem.  The Lord had softened his heart.  Here he learns to rely on, and to listen to, the Lord's direction as he is proceeding forth in faith.

He also learns about the imperative nature of the scriptures, how necessary they are for our (and our posterity's) spiritual survival.  Interestingly enough, even Laman and Lemuel attach value to them - one of the laundry list of complaints the Lamanites held for centuries against the Nephites was that the plates were stolen from them.

His will to follow the Lord deepens, and is tested.  It becomes far more than the journey to pick up some plates; it is the making of a man of God, willing to submit to the Lord's will and able to walk into the unknown.

Lesson From This

I think the first lesson from this is: seek the Lord first.  When I get complacent about receiving direction, or act faithlessly or pridefully, I set myself up for failure.

A wise man does not willingly walk blindly into a minefield, after seeing the danger signs.  He reads the signs carefully, learns where the clear path is, makes a detailed map of it, and follows it carefully.  A foolish man walks out without careful consideration and acts surprised when he is caught.

I live in a world with spiritual mines all around me.  Complacency and pride are foolish.  I have seen the danger signs.  I have a map presented for me.  I can choose to ignore it, or to make blind assumptions, or to consult it infrequently.  I can see others proclaiming a shorter, easier path, and follow them instead of the map of safety.

Another lesson is this: the Lord has a plan for me.  My trials, my weaknesses, my talents, my strengths are given to me for a reason.  That reason is not obvious.  That reason is obscured from my limited view, as those challenges are what builds me, what helps me to move forward.  Some situations I may have will seem redundant, or unnecessary, or overly difficult, or overwhelmingly painful, but the Lord can and will see me through, but only as I submit to His will.