On 1Nephi 16, Nephi and his brothers take on the daughters of Ismael to wed. This makes so much sense for how lonely it would be, had Nephi and his brothers and sisters travel without the comfort of wives and spouses.
Lehi found a ball "of curious workmanship; and it was of fine brass. And within the ball were two spindles; and the one pointed the way whither we should go into the wilderness." The other spindle, worked according to their faiths." This ball is known to this day as the LIAHONA. Many times during their travel, they couldn't progress because of the lack of faith that some of them had. They have to be constantly reminded and be repentful before they can continue.
Now the part of the reading this morning that I really enjoyed, was when Nephi had broken his bow and his brothers bowstrings were loose and they could not obtain food. EVERYONE complained including his father. They started murmuring and complaining. Only Nephi never gave up hope. Even when everyone blamed him for their own lack of food. Why Why Why is the Lord doing this to us?
Nephi made a bow and arrow out of woods. And even with his own father murmuring, Nephi had enough respect to still go to him and inquired of his father, where he should go hunting for food. He never doubted the knowledge and faith that Lehi had. Nephi went to his father, his father went and inquired of the Lord, repentant and humbled. The Lord chastened Lehi because of his murmurings and then continue to guide and direct them according to His will. Nephi was able to go and and slay a beast and brought it home for them to feast upon.
This made me thought of my own father. There were times, as a young girl growing up, where he was the model of perfection in my life. Always so strong and so perfect. Then as I mature and he's aging, I begin to notice that he wasn't so perfect after all, yet, this new discovery did not diminish the respect and honor I had for him. I was somehow disappointed but I was instantly reminded that no one is perfect after all. Not me, not him and definitely not anyone else. Only Christ himself.
We ended our reading with the death of Ishmael. (1Nep.16:34) This wind up anger, resentment and grief from some of his children and Laman and Lemuel themselves. So, they plotted to slay their own father Lehi and their brother Nephi. They assumed that Nephi wanted to make himself king over them. In a voice, the Lord came and chastened them and they became repentful of their sins and the Lord once again continued to bless them.
It's a repeated cycle with Laman and Lemuel. They sin, they're humbled and then they repent. How much easier it would have been had they be all like Nephi. I can imagine the joy that Lehi and Sariah would have had. The peace.
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