A Dictionary of the Book of Mormon/Nephi, the son of Lehi
NEPHI, THE SON OF LEHI. One of the greatest prophets whose presence ever dignified this earth. He was one of the most lovable of men, true as steel, never wavering, full of integrity, faith and zeal; he loved the Lord with all his heart. It is seldom we find a character in the history of this fallen world that was as perfect or as complete as was that of Nephi. He was naturally a leader, his faith and courage made him so, while his devout humility gave him strength with Heaven. In many respects he resembled Moses; not only was he their law-giver, but a practical teacher of his people in the every-day concerns of life. Like Enoch, he was a prophet, seer and revelator, one in whom were deposited the mysteries of God's dealings with future generations; like Abraham, he was a father to his people; like Melchisedec, he was their king and high priest; like Noah, he was a ship-builder, by which he delivered his family, and like Tubalcain, "an instructor of every artificer in brass and iron." In one respect he was like almost all the prophets, for he was derided, mocked, abused and persecuted by those who should have loved him most, those whose welfare he made his constant labor.
Nephi was the son of Lehi, a devout Israelite, of the tribe of Manasseh, who resided in Jerusalem; he was born probably about B. C. 617, was married B. C. 600, in the valley of Laman, on the borders of the Red Sea; he lived to a ripe old age, and had a numerous posterity, though of his immediate sons and daughters the Book of Mormon is entirely silent. It is presumable that one of his sons succeeded him under the title of Nephi II, as king of the Nephites.
When, on account of the persecution of the Jews, Lehi was commanded by the Lord to leave Jerusalem, Nephi gladly seconded all his efforts, and became a help and a stay to his father during the many troubles and perplexities of the toilsome journey through the Arabian wilderness. Early in that journey they rested for a time in a little valley bordering on the Red Sea to which Lehi gave the name of Laman. Twice while they tarried there the sons of Lehi were commanded to return to Jerusalem. The first time they went to obtain certain records relating to their tribe, and God's dealings with His people (see Zoram); the second time to invite Ishmael and his family to join them in their migration. When they had accomplished the purpose of their stay in the valley of Laman, the Lord commanded them to depart, and provided a guide for their travels in the shape of a Divinely prepared compass, which they called a Liahona. During the whole of the journey, its peace was marred by the rebellious and violent conduct of Lehi's unbelieving and unrepentant sons, of whom Laman was the leader. The first serious outbreak was during the return of Lehi's sons from Jerusalem to the tents of their father with Ishmael and his family. Some of the sons of Ishmael seem to have regretted the step which their father had taken. Possibly, like Laman and Lemuel, they had no faith in the prophecies of the servants of God, who declared that yet a little while and Jerusalem should be destroyed; and Laman and Lemuel soon impregnated them with that spirit of malice and discontent that they themselves had already so prominently shown. Two of the daughters of Ishmael also manifested this spirit. As usual, the way in which they showed their feelings was by abusing and ill-treating Nephi. He was the special object of their dislike, by reason of his faithfulness to the commandments of God, and because the Lord had shown to him that he should be their ruler.
When the spirit of rebellion first manifested itself, as they journeyed in the wilderness, Nephi rebuked the malcontents in somewhat severe terms. Angry with his words of reproof and entreaty, the rebellious portion of the camp took Nephi and bound him with cords, their intention being to leave him in the wilderness to be devoured by wild beasts. But Nephi in mighty faith prayed to the Lord to deliver him, and that the cords that bound him might be burst. His petitions were answered. No sooner had he offered this prayer than the bands were loosed, and he stood a free man before his brethren.
Again, in the love of his heart, he plead with his tormentors. But they were still filled with the spirit of malice and murder, and once more sought to lay violent hands upon him. However, the wife of Ishmael and one of her daughters, and also one son, begged so earnestly for them to desist that at last their hearts were softened, and in sorrow and humility they sought Nephi's forgiveness. This he freely granted without a moment's hesitation; he was but too glad to have them turn from their cruel and wicked course. Still, as they had offended God, as well as injured their brother, Nephi exhorted them to pray unto the Lord for forgiveness; which they did.
This outbreak was but the precursor and type of many others that afterwards troubled the little company. Another, which occurred shortly after, originated in so apparently trivial an accident as the breaking of Nephi's bow, while in the Arabian desert. It appears that in one of their expeditions for food Nephi, who was their most expert hunter, broke this bow, which was made of fine steel. Because of this misfortune they obtained no food, and, as a result, they became very hungry. Being hungry, they grew quarrelsome and rebellious. To such an extent did this spirit prevail in the camp, that even Lehi so far forgot himself as to murmur against the providences of God. Nephi, ever faithful, alone refrained from complaining against the Lord; he exhorted his brethren, as was his custom in times of trouble and sorrow, to put away the hardness of their hearts and humble themselves before the Lord and then all would be well with them. His words had their effect. Lehi felt truly chastened, and was brought down into the depths of sorrow. When in this condition the word of the Lord came to him, and he was instructed to look upon the Liahona, and read the things that were written thereon. The reproof that was written on the ball was such as to make Lehi tremble exceedingly, but it also brought relief to the party, as the writing instructed them where food could be obtained. Nephi, having made a bow out of wood, went with it and with a sling and stones, and found the game in the place that the writing had indicated. He slew enough for food for all the company. When he returned to the tents of his people, bearing the beasts he had slain, there was great rejoicing in the hearts of all, and they humbled themselves before the Lord and gave thanks to Him.
When the people of Lehi reached the sea shore they rejoiced greatly that their tedious wanderings were over; for they had not traveled in a straight line from coast to coast, but had wandered around and about as the Liahona directed them, which worked according to their faith and faithfulness. Eight years had been spent in taking a journey which, had they been as faithful as they should have been, would only have occupied a few weeks or months.
They pitched their tents by the sea shore, and after many days, the voice of the Lord came unto Nephi, saying, “Arise, and get thee into the mountain.' ' As ever, Nephi obeyed the heavenly word. He went up into the mountain, and there cried unto the Lord. Then the Lord spoke unto him and commanded him to build a ship, after a manner and pattern that He would show him, that the people might be carried across the great waters that lay before them.
Here a difficulty presented itself to the mind of Nephi. He had no tools, and how was it possible to build a ship without the proper instruments. So he laid the matter before the Lord, who, in answer to his prayers, told him where he could find ore with which he might make the tools he needed.
Nephi at once proceeded to carry out the commands of the Lord. With the skins of beasts he made a bellows to blow the fire, but fire as yet he had none, as the Lord had not permitted a fire to be lighted in the wilderness. So he smote two stones together, and their first fire was lighted since the company left the borders of the Red Sea. When his forge was made and his fire was lit, Nephi began to melt the ore that he had obtained to make the tools that he needed.
When his brothers saw that Nephi was about to build a ship, they began to ridicule him. They would give him no help, for they did not believe he was instructed of the Lord. Nephi became very sorrowful because of the hardness of their hearts. When they saw this they were glad, and tauntingly told him they knew that he was lacking in judgment and could not accomplish so great a work as to build a ship. Then Nephi recounted many things wherein the power of God had been manifested in the deliverance of their fathers; all of which he impressed upon them as a lesson that when God commanded, men should obey without doubt, or without question. Said he, "If God had commanded me to do all things, I could do them. If He should command me that I should say to this water, Be thou earth, it would be earth. Then how much less is it to build one ship than to do the marvelous works of which I have told you."
At first when Nephi held out these great truths to his brethren, they were angry and threatened to throw him into the sea; but the Spirit of God was so powerfully upon him, that they dared not touch him lest they wither; even if he but held out his hand towards them, they received a shock.
After a time the Lord told him to stretch forth his hand again toward his brethren, and that they should not wither; but the power of God should smite them; and this he was commanded to do that they might know that the Lord was their God. So Nephi stretched forth his hand as he was commanded, and the Lord shook them as He had promised. Then they fell down to worship their younger brother, who in times past they had so much abused; but he would not permit them. He said, "I am your brother, even your younger brother, wherefore worship the Lord thy God, and honor thy father and thy mother."
Then the brothers of Nephi worshiped the Lord, and showed their repentance by helping Nephi to build the ship; while he, from time to time, received the word of the Lord as to how he should work its timbers; for he did not work after the manner of the ship-builders of that time, nor after any manner that men were accustomed to. But he built the ship just as the Lord had shown it to him; and he often went up into the mount and prayed to the Lord, and God showed him many great things.
Now when the vessel was finished, Nephi's brothers saw that it was good, and its workmanship exceedingly fine, therefore they again humbled themselves before Heaven. Then the voice of the Lord came to them and commanded them to go on board, which word they willingly obeyed, and at once put forth to sea. The vessel was then driven by the winds towards the promised land. After they had been sailing prosperously for a number of days, the hearts of Nephi's brothers and of the sons of Ishmael and others grew merry and in their merriment they forgot the Lord. They danced and sang and became very boisterous and rude. This conduct pained Nephi exceedingly. He feared lest God should be angry with them and smite them. Therefore he began to protest with much seriousness against the course they were taking; but they grew angry with him, and his two elder brothers, Laman and Lemuel, took him and bound him. So furious were they that they treated him with great harshness, binding the cords so tightly around his limbs that they caused him much suffering.
Then the Liahona ceased to work. It had been directing the course of the ship thus far, but now that they had rebelled against the Lord it would no longer point the way that they should sail. They were in a dilemma, for not one of them knew which way the ship should be steered. To add to their trouble and perplexity there arose a great and terrible tempest, and the ship was driven back upon the waters for three days; and though they were afraid that the raging waters would engulf their little vessel, yet so hardened were they that they would not loose Nephi.
On the fourth day matters were still worse. There appeared to be no hope, but that they would be swallowed up in the sea. Then, and not till then, did they seem to understand that the judgments of God were upon them, and that they must unavoidably perish unless they repented. Then they reluctantly loosened the bands which bound Nephi's wrists and ankles, and let him go free. But his limbs, by reason of the way in which he had been bound, were swollen, and he tells us great was the soreness thereof. Nevertheless, in all his afflictions he never murmured.
During the time that Nephi had been thus bound, his father Lehi had begged most earnestly for the release of his son, but the rebels threatened everyone who sought Nephi's release; and his parents who had now grown aged, were brought down to sickbeds by reason of their afflictions and came very near to being cast into a watery grave.
When Nephi was freed he took the compass, and it commenced to work as before. He prayed to the Lord, after which the winds ceased to blow, the storm passed away, and there was a great calm. Then Nephi took charge of the ship and guided it in its course towards the promised land, which, after many days it reached in safety.
Arrived on the land of promise, they found it rich in minerals, and fruitful. The little colony at once proceeded to sow the seeds they had brought with them and were delighted to find that they fructified and brought forth abundantly; and all might have been peace and happiness in their midst had it not been for the murderous jealousy of Laman and his associates. After a time, Lehi called his posterity and others together and blessed them. Many and glorious were the promises made by the patriarch to Nephi. Soon after this, Lehi passed away to his eternal reward.
No sooner was Lehi dead than the hatred that rankled in the hearts of Laman and those who sympathized with him seems to have become intensified. It became evident that the two peoples could not live together in peace. They had nothing in common except that they belonged to the same family. Laman's vindictiveness grew so cruel that Nephi's life was in danger; and, as the readiest way out of the difficulty, Nephi was instructed of the Lord to take those who would listen to his teachings and obey the commandments of God into some other part of the land. Therefore, he gathered together those people who would hearken to him, and, taking that portion of the property that belonged to them, as also the sacred records, the sword of Laban, the Liahona and other treasures, they departed into the wilderness. Those who listened to Nephi and accompanied him on this journey were, besides his own family, his brothers Sam, Jacob and Joseph, his sisters, whose names are not given, and Zoram, with their families. There might have been, possibly, some others, as we are led to infer from the statement in the Book of Mormon, but who they were we are not told.
The distance which Nephi and his people traveled was not, probably, very great; that is, it is not to be measured by thousands of miles, for we find that in a very few years the Lamanites had found out their place of retreat, and were harassing and making war upon them.
The Nephites desired that the land they now possessed should be called the land of Nephi; and this was the name by which it was always afterward known. The people of Nephi made yet another request. It was that Nephi should be their king. This desire did not altogether please him; but for the safety of his people he consented. The kingly power in his hands partook much of the nature of fatherhood. His people were few in numbers, and he looked after their individual interests, guided them in their undertakings, directed them in their labors, and when he found that there was danger of an attack from the embittered adherents of Laman,he took the sword of Laban, and, using it as a pattern, fashioned other swords for their defense. Being thus prepared for the attacks of their enemies, the Nephites repulsed them every time they came to battle.
Nephi also taught his people to be industrious. They were a lonely people, cut off from communication with all the rest of the world, without excitements, and with very few amusements that are common to most peoples. He knew that nothing would be so dangerous to their spiritual welfare, as well as to their health, as to permit them to spend their days in idleness. He, therefore, taught them many kinds of work, the women to take the wool of the sheep and the hair of the llamas and make clothes thereof; while upon the men devolved the labor of building a temple. Holding the Holy Priesthood himself, he consecrated his brothers Jacob and Joseph to be priests also.
Shortly after the arrival of Lehi and his little party on this continent, Nephi received a commandment from the Lord to make certain plates of ore on which to engrave the doings of his people. And a few years later Nephi received further instructions, wherein he was commanded to make other plates upon which also were to be engraven the history of the Nephite people. By them, both these plates were called the plates of Nephi, but they were not used for identically the same purpose. Upon one set of plates was inscribed the religious history of the people, upon the other was given in greater detail the history of their wars, contentions, development and other secular matters.
Some years later, how long we are not told, Nephi anointed another man to be king over his people, and then, having grown old, he died. So greatly was he beloved by his subjects that the people called the next king, Nephi the second, the next, Nephi the third, and so on. He had been their prophet, priest and king; father, friend and guide; protector, teacher and leader; next to God, their all in all.