Summary: The Lord commands Lehi to send his kids back to Jerusalem to get Ishmael's family so they can hook up with his daughters and have kids. On the way back to Lehi in the wilderness, Laman riles everyone up and says they oughta just put the brakes on this crazy adventure and go back to J-town (actual words). Nephi does not agree, and teaches them about having faith in the Lord. They tie him up. He says, "Nuh uh" and the bands loosen. The situation is defused. They return to Lehi.
V. 7- "And it came to pass that the Lord did soften the heart of Ishmael..."
How does the Lord soften a heart? Doesn't this violate free agency?
Recall 1 Nephi 2:16. Lehi has just finished lambasting Laman and Lemuel for their faithlessness, as remember as well his other prophecies and visions in the preceding chapter regarding the Savior and the imminent destruction of Jerusalem. Nephi, although he's not absolutely certain of the truth of his father's words, nevertheless acts in faith and cries to the Lord for guidance. The Lord then "softens" his heart and thus Nephi comes to believe all the words of his father. In my life, I've always pictured this scene (getting back to 1 Nephi 7:7) taking place at Ishmael's doorstep, with Nephi and his brothers giving a little spiel, Ishmael thinking about it for a minute, then deciding, "Yeah, okay, why not." It's more likely that the visit took a little longer than that. Perhaps Ishmael was hesitant. Perhaps he invited them all in and they sat around to discuss the idea. And even more likely, since Ishmael was obviously a righteous guy, he probably sought the Lord for guidance on what to do.
It is interesting that, in the beginning, Nephi prayed to receive guidance on what to do, and had his heart softened. Now, with his faith solidified, he is teaching others, who are also (probably) seeking out the Lord in prayer for confirmation of tough decisions. Reminds me of missionary work.
One more question- how "hard" must a heart be to where the Lord cannot soften it?
I think it's simple. If you won't ask God, then it's clear that your heart is impenetrable to the Spirit. "But can't God do anything?" Yes, he's omnipotent. But He will not violate your agency. He will only wait for you to ask.
V. 10 "How is it that ye have forgotten?"
Nephi states this three times to Laman and Lemuel. They've forgotten they've seen an angel. They've forgotten the Lord helping them with a miraculous escape from Laban with the gold plates. And they've forgotten that the Lord can do anything if they put their faith in Him. Why all the forgetting? Why do we forget spiritual experiences? Seeing an angel seems like a pretty big deal, so it's hard for me to grasp how you would forget that. In my life, and from other people's experiences, spiritual experiences tend to not be crazy mind-blowing visions of grandeur and glory, but quiet whisperings from the Spirit. Although these experiences can be life-changing and extraordinarily powerful at the time, this "quiet" nature of spiritual whisperings leads me to believe that unless we write them down, over time with the busy rush of life and the cacophony of all sorts of voices in the world, these experiences can be dulled. So keep a journal.
Also...
"We need the Sacrament because we are so liable to forget."-- Brigham Young
Apparently, the Lord understands how forgetful we can be, which is why the Sacrament is a weekly occurrence (I assume that's why it's a weekly occurrence, but I could be wrong).
V. 21- Nephi "frankly" forgives his brothers
After Nephi prays for deliverance and has his bands loosened, Laman (or whoever is mad here) tries to git him, but one of Ishmael's daughters pleads for them to stop. So they stop. And beg forgiveness. Nephi has a lot to be mad about here and could just as well do one of those little quick head tilts like Eleven does on Stranger Things and break all their necks, but instead of retaliating in any way, forgives them without hesitation. Being filled with the Spirit means being firm in calling people to repentance, but it also means being filled with Christlike love, which he clearly is. As the hymn goes...
"Forgiveness is a gift from thee, we seek with pure intent..." -- As Now We Take The Sacrament (Hymn #169)
V. 7- "And it came to pass that the Lord did soften the heart of Ishmael..."
How does the Lord soften a heart? Doesn't this violate free agency?
Recall 1 Nephi 2:16. Lehi has just finished lambasting Laman and Lemuel for their faithlessness, as remember as well his other prophecies and visions in the preceding chapter regarding the Savior and the imminent destruction of Jerusalem. Nephi, although he's not absolutely certain of the truth of his father's words, nevertheless acts in faith and cries to the Lord for guidance. The Lord then "softens" his heart and thus Nephi comes to believe all the words of his father. In my life, I've always pictured this scene (getting back to 1 Nephi 7:7) taking place at Ishmael's doorstep, with Nephi and his brothers giving a little spiel, Ishmael thinking about it for a minute, then deciding, "Yeah, okay, why not." It's more likely that the visit took a little longer than that. Perhaps Ishmael was hesitant. Perhaps he invited them all in and they sat around to discuss the idea. And even more likely, since Ishmael was obviously a righteous guy, he probably sought the Lord for guidance on what to do.
It is interesting that, in the beginning, Nephi prayed to receive guidance on what to do, and had his heart softened. Now, with his faith solidified, he is teaching others, who are also (probably) seeking out the Lord in prayer for confirmation of tough decisions. Reminds me of missionary work.
One more question- how "hard" must a heart be to where the Lord cannot soften it?
I think it's simple. If you won't ask God, then it's clear that your heart is impenetrable to the Spirit. "But can't God do anything?" Yes, he's omnipotent. But He will not violate your agency. He will only wait for you to ask.
V. 10 "How is it that ye have forgotten?"
Nephi states this three times to Laman and Lemuel. They've forgotten they've seen an angel. They've forgotten the Lord helping them with a miraculous escape from Laban with the gold plates. And they've forgotten that the Lord can do anything if they put their faith in Him. Why all the forgetting? Why do we forget spiritual experiences? Seeing an angel seems like a pretty big deal, so it's hard for me to grasp how you would forget that. In my life, and from other people's experiences, spiritual experiences tend to not be crazy mind-blowing visions of grandeur and glory, but quiet whisperings from the Spirit. Although these experiences can be life-changing and extraordinarily powerful at the time, this "quiet" nature of spiritual whisperings leads me to believe that unless we write them down, over time with the busy rush of life and the cacophony of all sorts of voices in the world, these experiences can be dulled. So keep a journal.
Also...
"We need the Sacrament because we are so liable to forget."-- Brigham Young
Apparently, the Lord understands how forgetful we can be, which is why the Sacrament is a weekly occurrence (I assume that's why it's a weekly occurrence, but I could be wrong).
V. 21- Nephi "frankly" forgives his brothers
After Nephi prays for deliverance and has his bands loosened, Laman (or whoever is mad here) tries to git him, but one of Ishmael's daughters pleads for them to stop. So they stop. And beg forgiveness. Nephi has a lot to be mad about here and could just as well do one of those little quick head tilts like Eleven does on Stranger Things and break all their necks, but instead of retaliating in any way, forgives them without hesitation. Being filled with the Spirit means being firm in calling people to repentance, but it also means being filled with Christlike love, which he clearly is. As the hymn goes...
"Forgiveness is a gift from thee, we seek with pure intent..." -- As Now We Take The Sacrament (Hymn #169)
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