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 1:6

When Lehi prayed and beheld the pillar of fire and the accompanying revelation, it appears that he was in an isolated place, pouring out his heart in prayer.

How many instances are recorded of revelation coming from prayer and pondering? (Joseph Smith JSH 1:10-17, Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon D&C 76:19, Joseph F. Smith 138:1-2, Enos Enos 1:3-4, the Brother of Jared Ether 2 & 3, to name a few)

In the Oct 2011 General Conference, Elder Richard G. Scott shared

Pondering a passage of scripture can be a key to unlock revelation and the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Ghost.  "The Power of Scripture"

Elder Scott gave instruction on "How to Obtain Revelation" in the April 2012 GenCon,

When I am faced with a very difficult matter, this is how I try to understand what to do. I fast. I pray to find and understand scriptures that will be helpful. That process is cyclical. I start reading a passage of scripture; I ponder what the verse means and pray for inspiration. I then ponder and pray to know if I have captured all the Lord wants me to do. Often more impressions come with increased understanding of doctrine. I have found that pattern to be a good way to learn from the scriptures.

In Oct 2009 GenCon address "To Acquire Spiritual Guidance", Elder Scott shared this powerful example of the results of pondering and praying.

I sought a more private location, where I continued to write the feelings that flooded into my mind and heart as faithfully as possible. After each powerful impression was recorded, I pondered the feelings I had received...I received further impressions, and the process of writing down the impressions, pondering, and praying for confirmation was repeated. Again I was prompted to ask, “Is there more I should know?” And there was...Had I not responded to the first impressions and recorded them, I would not have received the last, most precious guidance.

What fraction of my day do I dedicate to scripture study, prayer and meditation?

What am I receiving, or failing to receive, as I heed this counsel?

To what degree am I obedient/worthy, and how does that affect my ability to receive revelation?

1 Nephi 1:1

1 Nephi 1:1  Nephi had many afflictions. Why did he consider himself highly favored of the Lord?

How can I feel "favored of the Lord" in the midst of my afflictions?

 Nephi continued that he "had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God." In the Oct 2088 General Conference, Elder Bednar said,

"Revelation is communication from Heavenly Father to His children on earth. As we ask in faith, we can receive revelation upon revelation and knowledge upon knowledge and come to know the mysteries and peaceable things that bring joy and eternal life (see D&C 42:61). The mysteries are those matters that can only be known and understood by the power of the Holy Ghost (see Harold B. Lee, Ye Are the Light of the World [1974], 211)." [italics added]

 The mysteries of God are known via revelation through the Holy Ghost, which bears record of the Father and the Son. If Nephi had the companionship of the Holy Ghost (and he did), then he had access to gifts of the Spirit, which include peace and comfort, which he would have needed to pass through his afflictions.

Nephi kept a record of his life. What purpose does keeping a journal serve? To remember what has passed, revelations we have received, evidences of God's love and tender mercies in our lives, testimonies, a witness to those who may later read it, a warning, an example...

Of record keeping (personal journal), President Kimball said,

"Accordingly, we urge our young people to begin today to write and keep records of all the important things in their own lives...Your own private journal should record the way you face up to challenges that beset you. Do not suppose life changes so much that your experiences will not be interesting to your posterity. Experiences of work, relations with people, and an awareness of the rightness and wrongness of actions will always be relevant." "The Angels May Quote From It" also the BoM Student Manual

President Kimball also said that "remember" might be the most important word, "when you look in the dictionary for the most important word, do you know what it is?  It could be 'remember.' Because all of (us) have made covenants...our greatest need is to remember."