1 Nephi 11-16 "Have Ye Inquired of the Lord?

I can't believe how long it's been since I posted!  Beginning April 7th, I started the Book of Mormon Translation Challenge, wherein you read 6 pages of the Book of Mormon per day to finish reading the book in approximately the same amount of time it took Joseph Smith to translate it.  I've done it before and decided to stop where I was reading and start over with this challenge.  It's been cool--remembering things I've learned before and learning new things.

The thing that sticks out to me right now is Lehi's vision of the tree of life and the different reactions of his sons.  When Nephi wants to know more, he humbles himself, believes that God can make them known to him, and ponders over the vision.  When Laman and Lemuel murmur because they cannot understand the things their father has told them, Nephi asks "Have ye inquired of the lord?" 1N15:8, they answer "We have not ; for the Lord maketh no such thing known unto us." 1N15:9

It becomes obvious that each receives the fruit of their labor.  When Nephi wants to know what the meaning of the tree is in the vision, he sees Mary, the mother of God and the condescension of the Savior in shedding his premortal glory and coming to earth as a small, helpless child.  From this, Nephi deduces that the tree is "the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of men" 1 Nephi 11:22  When Laman and Lemuel ask Nephi, "What meaneth the tree which he saw?" 1N15:21 Nephi answers "It was a representation of the tree of life." 1N15:22  That's it.

Laman and Lemuel don't seem to know what they are missing.  Nephi tells them if  they were "righteous and were willing to hearken to the truth, and give heed to it, that ye might walk uprightly before God, then ye would not murmur." 1N16:3  He also "did exhort my brethren, with all diligence, to keep the commandments of the Lord."

The incident with the broken bows continues the theme.  Laman and Lemuel are sometimes obedient and sometimes faithful, but when times get hard, their testimonies are not built on a firm foundation (Hel 5:12 and 1 Nephi 2:12), and they murmur.  Nephi acts in faith and asks for guidance. 

Nephi also notes that the Liahona works "according to the faith and diligence and heed which we did give" 1N16:28  Faith. Diligence. Heed.

Based on this, my question is, "What revelation, guidance, faith building, or higher knowledge am I missing because I need to be more obedient and/or to be faithful enough to ask, to believe God will answer me and then be willing to act on the things which I receive?"

1 Nephi 3 revisited: Obedience

One thing I love about the scriptures is how you could take just a small section, study it forever, and still find new things.

I was rereading 1 Nephi 3:14-19, and I noticed the difference between why Laman and Lemuel are obedient and how they respond to adversity, and Nephi's reason for obedience and how he responds to adversity.

Laman and Lemuel are obedient because they are doing their duty, being obedient to their earthly father, so when they had tried and failed, they consider the job done.

Nephi is obedient because he considers it a commandment from his Heavenly Father, so when he tries and fails, and tries and fails again, he doesn't give up.  The Lord has prepared a way for him, and Nephi's not going to give up until he is successful.

Now the hard questions.  Why am I obedient?  How faithful am I in persisting when being obedient is not easy?

It reminds me of when Peter came to the Savior and asked how many times do I have to forgive my brother?  till seven times?  And the Savior answers, "Until seventy times seven." Matthew 18:21-22.

How many times do I have to keep trying?  I guess as many times as it takes or until I hear otherwise.

1 Nephi 2:16-24 A Sure Foundation

Unlike his brothers, Nephi actively sought a change in heart and desired to know the things of God.  When Nephi had humbled himself and cried unto the Lord, he believed the words of his father and did not rebel against him.  Once he received this witness of the Spirit, Nephi made it known to his brothers, but only Sam accepted and believed.  Nephi didn't stop at sharing his testimony with his rebellious brothers, he cried unto the Lord for them when they rejected it.  This is when he hears, "Blessed art thou, Nephi."

The Lord tells Nephi that as long as he is obedient, he will be led to a land of promise, for him and his children as long as they are obedient.

These verses build on the exodus theme.  Nephi's land of promise is contingent on his righteousness, just like my eternal promised land is contingent on my obedience and righteousness.  Nephi was blessed for his faith and diligence and was led to the promised land.  His brothers had no power over him, but he still had to endure many afflictions.

Helaman 5:12 is a great verse for giving us hope against adversity,

"And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his might winds, yea, his shafts in the whirwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."

How firm is my foundation?  Do I follow the Savior's admonition to "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and Pray for them which despitefully use you." Matthew 5:44