Jacob 1 - That We Might Persuade Them to Come Unto Christ I'm taking an online economics class right now, which prompted me to think of the definition of economics in the context of the scriptures. Economics is the study of the allocation of scarce resources. In the case of Nephi and his successor Jacob, the plates upon which they engraved their record was a scarce resource. They were costly to make and difficult to engrave, and instilling a tradition of passing them through generations was surely cumbersome. Recognizing the great importance of spiritual things and the challenge of maintaining records, Nephi instructed Jacob to prioritize religious instruction saying, " if there were preaching which was sacred, or revelation which was great, or prophesying, that I should engraven the heads of them upon these plates, and touch upon them as much as it were possible, for Christ’s sake, and for the sake of our people" (Jacob 1:4). This priority was not only reflecte
This is Lehi's last impassioned plea to his wayward sons Laman and Lemuel. It seems fitting a couple days after Father's Day to think about the range of emotions Lehi surely felt for his children and the deep concern he held for their well-being. What makes his plea so deeply heartbreaking is that (SPOILER ALERT) Laman and Lemuel reject his counsel.
Throughout First Nephi there are numerous examples of Lehi and Nephi teaching, persuading, encouraging, and pleading with Laman and Lemuel, who go through fits and starts of wickedness, repentance, righteousness, complaining, slothfulness, and obedience. In so many stories in the scriptures, extreme trials, pain, and uncertainty eventually lead to victory and joy. These faith-promoting examples can motivate us to keep working and to have hope and patience. But what are we supposed to do with accounts that seem to lack a silver lining? Lehi labored his entire life in righteousness and love to guide, correct, and instruct his sons to no avail.
It reminds me of a conference talk by Dennis Simmons in 2004 titled "But If Not..." where Simmons teaches that "Faith is not bravado, not just a wish, not just a hope. True faith is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ—confidence and trust in Jesus Christ that leads a person to follow Him" even if he or she never realizes the outcome he or she hoped for. Lehi holds a similar attitude when, after warning Laman and Lemuel of the consequences of sin he pleads with his them, "O my sons, that these things might not come upon you, but that ye might be a choice and a favored people of the Lord. But behold, his will be done; for his ways are righteousness forever" (2 Nephi 1:19).
Even though no one can control the decisions of another person, Lehi models how parents can help children make good choices: 1) he explains the blessings of obedience (present and future) in a personal and compelling way 2.) he details the consequences of sin, and 3.) he expresses love as he firmly invites his sons to change their behavior. I'd like to focus on his explanation of blessings and invitations to repent.
I, Lehi, Have Obtained a Promise
Lehi starts his address to Laman and Lemuel with a strong focus on the blessings they had already received from the Lord. He reminds them in the first three verses, "how great things the Lord had done for them in bringing them out of the land of Jerusalem" (2 Nephi 1:1), about "the mercies of God in sparing their lives, that they were not swallowed up in the sea (2 Nephi 1:2), and "how merciful the Lord had been in warning us that we should flee out of the land of Jerusalem" (2 Nephi 1:3).
He also shared the Lord's promises regarding their new home: "notwithstanding our afflictions, we have obtained a land of promise, a land which is choice above all other lands; a land which the Lord God hath covenanted with me should be a land for the inheritance of my seed. Yea, the Lord hath covenanted this land unto me, and to my children forever, and also all those who should be led out of other countries by the hand of the Lord" (2 Nephi 1:5). "Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land; but inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall be cut off from my presence" (2 Nephi 1:20).
Arise from the Dust, My Sons, and Be Men
Lehi repeatedly urges Laman and Lemuel to awake from spiritual sleep, rise from the dust, shake off the chains of spiritual bondage, and put on the armor of righteousness. "O that ye would awake; awake from a deep sleep, yea, even from the sleep of hell, and shake off the awful chains by which ye are bound ... Awake! and arise from the dust, and hear the words of a trembling parent (2 Nephi 1:13-14). "Awake, my sons; put on the armor of righteousness. Shake off the chains with which ye are bound, and come forth out of obscurity, and arise from the dust" (2 Nephi 1:22).
As Lehi invites his sons to repent, he articulates his hopes and desires for them in love: "I desire that ye should remember to observe the statutes and the judgments of the Lord; behold, this hath been the anxiety of my soul from the beginning" (2 Nephi 1:16). By letting them know how emotionally invested he is, Lehi shows his love. "And now that my soul might have joy in you, and that my heart might leave this world with gladness because of you, that I might not be brought down with grief and sorrow to the grave, arise from the dust, my sons, and be men, and be determined in one mind and in one heart, united in all things, that ye may not come down into captivity (2 Nephi 1:21)
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