1 Nephi 5:1-9 Fear and Faith

How do I keep from being paralyzed or overwhelmed by fear?  How do I respond to or help those whose faith is threatened by fear?

In the beginning of chapter 5, Sariah rejoices at the return of her sons, the more so because she had feared their death as well as her own.  She had accused Lehi of being a "visionary man" and leading them out of Jerusalem to their deaths.

How does Lehi respond to these accusations? 

With truth and with love. 

He acknowledges that he is a visionary man, then continues with his testimony that if they had not been led out Jerusalem by a vision of God, they would have perished.  He concludes with his testimony that he knows God will deliver their sons and bring them safely back to them.

Lehi not only comforted his wife, he strengthened her faith and testimony by speaking truth in love and by the Spirit.

There are several excellent scriptures and conference talks on fear and faith.

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a strong mind." 2 Timothy 1:7

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).

"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." John 16:33

"Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you" D&C 68:6

"My beloved brothers and sisters, fear not. Be of good cheer. The future is as bright as your faith." Be of Good Cheer, Thomas S. Monson

"Faith and fear cannot coexist. One gives way to the other...In a household of faith, there is no need to fear or doubt. Choose to live by faith and not fear." Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Kevin W. Pearson

"So I say, choose faith. Choose faith over doubt, choose faith over fear, choose faith over the unknown and the unseen, and choose faith over pessimism."  Faith--The Choice is Yours, Richard C Edgley 

"When we choose to follow Christ in faith rather than choosing another path out of fear, we are blessed" Live by Faith and Not by Fear, Quentin L. Cook

"We live in a time of turmoil...But we do not need to let our fears displace our faith. We can combat those fears by strengthening our faith." Face the Future with Faith, Russell M. Nelson

"Your exercise of faith in true principles builds character...As a result, your capacity and confidence to conquer the trials of life is enhanced." The Transforming Power of Faith and Character, Richard G. Scott

"In both of the experiences that these good families endured, pain and sorrow left because of the light of the gospel, which filled them with peace and comfort, providing the assurance that everything would be well." Faith in Adversity, Rafael E. Pino

1 Nephi 4:20-38 Choices

One man in a wicked environment chose to follow God.  While my immediate surroundings are peaceful, the world is rapidly increasing in wickedness and distancing itself from God.  The world calls "evil good, and good evil." Isaiah 5:20-21

How can I keep myself prepared to hear and follow God when he calls?  Even when the "whole world" cries one thing, how do I keep my ears and heart turned towards God?

We see Nephi prepared to do God's work, and I think Zoram is also prepared.  Of all the people in Jerusalem who were chosen to leave Jerusalem, there is Lehi and his family, Ishmael and his family, and Zoram, a servant of Laban.

We know little of Zoram's life before this time, but we do know he is chosen by God to accompany Lehi's group into the wilderness, and is later commended as being a true friend to Nephi and is promised that his descendants would be blessed and prospered in the new land.

I think when Nephi speaks to Zoram, the Spirit of God conveys the truth of his words.  Whether Zoram  was outwardly religious or righteous before this time or not, when he heard Nephi speak, Zoram chooses to follow the path to freedom, the path of obedience, and the path to God.

1 Nephi 4:5-19 Trust

"Trust me."

Nephi must have lived his life in such a manner as to completely trust the Spirit of God.  He must have experimented on the word sufficiently to have great faith and confidence in following the prompting of the Holy Ghost when he was led "not knowing" the things he would be asked to do.

Alma compares a seed to the word of God and how through our patience and diligence in applying the word of God in our lives, our faith and joy is increased.  Nephi was undoubtedly nourishing his spirit on a daily basis.

How faithfully do I follow the guidance of the Spirit?  Do I heed and follow daily promptings to serve, to study, to work and even to rest in the Lord?  Do I trust and love God enough to do as he asks, even when I do not know why He is asking?  Even when it is hard?

1 Nephi 4:1-4 Remember

Remembering is a powerful tool.  Sometimes, when I am walking in the morning with one of my friends, and one of us is going through a tough time, we will recall past experiences of the Lord's goodness in our lives and increase our faith that He will continue to sustain and support us in our trials.

After being threatened by Laban and chased by his servants, Laman and Lemuel grudgingly agree to return to Jerusalem, but they are afraid. Because Nephi has a testimony that "the Lord is mightier than all the earth," he is prepared to "be faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord."  He encourages his brothers to be "strong like unto Moses" and recounts the Exodus story and says "Ye know that this is true."

Using a past miraculous experience of deliverance, Nephi encourages his brothers to remember the strength and power of God and to have the courage to try again.

What is the source of my faith, and how can I best remember the Lord's tender mercies in my life?

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 3 Spiritual Courage

When Lehi asks his sons retrieve the scriptures from Jerusalem, Laman and Lemuel murmur, saying that he has required a hard thing of them, but Lehi knows that it is a commandment of the Lord.  He encourages Nephi to go, telling him that he will be favored of the Lord because he has not murmured.  Nephi responds with his famous "I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded...he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." 1 Nephi 3:7

Where did Nephi get the courage to go and then to stay even after things got rough?
1.  He was taught of goodly parents 1 Nephi 1:1.
2.  He prayed/humbled himself, and the Lord softened his heart. 1 Nephi 2:16.
3.  He was probably consistent/diligent (1 Nephi 2:19) in his daily practices, so he was prepared, like a runner for a race or like the the Ten Virgins of the parable.

How diligent am I in my daily practices of prayer, scripture study, obedience to the commandments and service?  Do I have sufficient oil in my lamp to meet the challenges of my day?  What is one think I can do better tomorrow?

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