Scripture Reading Day 2: Book of Mormon, 1 Nephi Ch 4-7

It's the second day of my year long scripture reading goal. Yesterday I read about Lehi's vision, his family leaving to live in the wilderness, and his sons returning to Jerusalem to retrieve the brass plates from Laban. Today starts out with Nephi having Laban delivered to him by the Lord so that Nephi can slay him and pose as Laban long enough to get the plates and get out, taking Laban's servant along for the ride. How hard would that be? I am an extremely non-violent person and I can't imagine being told to kill someone. It would be a very difficult thing for me to do, probably more difficult than dropping everything to live in the wilderness, but then again, I actually enjoy camping.

Once the boys get the plates home, and everyone celebrates their not being dead, Lehi is quick to study them intentlly, prophesying that these brass plates will reach every nation. I found the scripture 1Ne 6:6 sort of interesting. It states:

Wherefore, I shall give commandment unto my seed, that they shall not occupy these plates with things which are not of worth unto the children of men."

So he's basically telling those writers that will come after him to stick to the important facts and leave out embellishments or unnecessary tidbits. To me that means that nothing in the book is unessential. Every verse has some worth  so I guess I would be wise to pay attention to every single verse then.

Image by More Good Foundation via Flickr

Now,after everyone is home and settled again, Lehi tells the boys that they must go back and find some wives to take with them into the wilderness. They do as they are told but on the way back Laman and Lemuel get mighty ticked off at Nephi and tie him up. I know the stories well enough to know that this is just the beginning with these two.When I read the illustrated version to my kids, one of my sons remarked. "What is their
problem?" It made me laugh, I mean really how much does it take for these two to get the point? I had to remind my son that he doesn't like taking orders from his little brother either and he seemed to understand after that. Some people are just more stubborn that others. I should know, I've been one of them for awhile.

Tomorrow I'm onto  chapters 8-11.