1 Nephi 7 & 9 (9/12)

For our lesson on 9/13, please read 1 NEPHI 7 & 9

PONDER the following:

1. How can this chapter help us choose to be obedient when we don't fully understand the reasons behind a commandment?
2. This chapter refers to 2 sets of plates (write this in your scriptures to help)
1. "These Plates" refers to the Small plates of Nephi
2. "the other plates" refers to the Large plates of Nephi 
3. What lessons can we learn from 1 Nephi 7 about 
1. marriage and family?
2. Getting help from the Lord when we are in a bind?
3. Forgiveness?

1 Ne. 9:5-6 "For a wise purpose in him"
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
“It strikes me that there is a wiser purpose than that [compensating for the loss of the 116 pages], or, more accurately, a wiser purpose in that. The key to such a suggestion of a wiser purpose is in verse 45 of Doctrine and Covenants section 10. As the Lord instructs Joseph on the procedure for translating and inserting the material from the small plates into what had been begun as the translation of the abridged large plates, he says, ‘Behold, there are many things engraven upon the [small] plates of Nephi which do throw greater views upon my gospel’ (emphasis added).
“… We got back more than we lost. And it was known from the beginning that it would be so. It was for a wiser purpose. …
“I think it would be exciting if the 116 pages of manuscript turned up some day, but if they were delivered to my office tomorrow I would never trade them for the material in the small plates of Nephi” (Jeffrey R. Holland, “A Standard unto My People” [address given at the Church Educational System Symposium, Aug. 9, 1994], 7–8, 9).

Elder Marvin J. Ashton

“Sometimes when we are asked to be obedient, we do not know why, except the Lord has commanded. … Nephi followed instructions even though he didn’t fully understand the wise purpose. His obedience resulted in blessings to mankind all over the world” (Marvin J. Ashton, “Who Will Forfeit the Harvest?” Ensign, Nov. 1978, 51).

Want more?

1. Study "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" and ponder how it fits with chapter 7

2. Study the following statement from Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles concerning Nephi’s prayer in 1 Nephi 7:17 and the power of the Atonement to change our hearts. Underline any phrases that help you understand the importance of being willing to act as we pray in faith.

“Do you know what I likely would have prayed for if I had been tied up by my brothers? My prayer would have included a request for something bad to happen to my brothers and ended with the phrase ‘wilt thou deliver me from the hands of my brethren’ or, in other words, ‘Please get me out of this mess, now!’ It is especially interesting to me that Nephi did not pray, as I probably would have prayed, to have his circumstances changed. Rather, he prayed for the strength to change his circumstances. And may I suggest that he prayed in this manner precisely because he knew and understood and had experienced the enabling power of the Atonement of the Savior. …

“Brothers and sisters, the implication of this episode for each of us is quite straightforward. As you and I come to understand and employ the enabling power of the Atonement in our personal lives, we will pray and seek for strength to change our circumstances rather than praying for our circumstances to be changed. We will become agents who ‘act’ rather than objects that are ‘acted upon’ (2 Nephi 2:14)” (“‘In the Strength of the Lord’ (Words of Mormon 1:14; Mosiah 9:17; Mosiah 10:10; Alma 20:4),” in Brigham Young University 2001–2002 Speeches [2002], 124).

How to study the scriptures:

Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Presidency of the Seventy gave insight regarding how to learn by the Spirit: “For the gospel to be written in your heart, you need to know what it is and grow to understand it more fully. That means you will study it. When I say study, I mean something more than reading. It is a good thing sometimes to read a book of scripture within a set period of time to get an overall sense of its message, but for conversion you should care more about the amount of time you spend in the scriptures than about the amount you read in that time. I see you sometimes reading a few verses, stopping to ponder them, carefully reading the verses again, and as you think about what they mean, praying for understanding, asking questions in your mind, waiting for spiritual impressions, and writing down the impressions and insights that come so you can remember and learn more. Studying in this way, you may not read a lot of chapters or verses in a half hour, but you will be giving place in your heart for the word of God, and He will be speaking to you” (in Conference Report, Apr. 2004, 9–10; or Ensign, May 2004, 11).