Scripture Thought 9/9/08

1 Nephi 1:2What is the language of Lehi? We are led to believe it is Egyptian or a reformed Egyptian. Nephi wrote in Egyptian. What did he write? Where did he learn it? We know they lived in Jerusalem. How far away from Egypt is that? Why would it be the preferred form of writing? When we look at the cross references for LANGUAGE we are told that it consisted of the learning of the Jews. What does that entail? Did they know that Law of Moses, the teachings of Fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? How does this learning, that of the Jews, relate to the Egyptians learning? Were the two cultures combined? Was it more than a cultural joining? Did one dominate the other?Do we do the same thing today? Are there people out there who are trying to combine the best of both worlds or cultures? Isn't it interesting that even today we are experiencing the same thing. Several of the people we associate with on a daily basis, read, write, and speak in one language, but at home they teach their children the learning of a different language. How should we deal with these circumstances? Was Lehi's family looked at poorly because they lived in both? What side are we one? Towards the end of this verse, Mormon starts commenting on this form of writing and learning. He states that if he could write in Hebrew, there would not be as much confusion. The words and communication would be more exact. Yet the Hebrew language is too cumbersome and they did not have the resources to do so. Are there languages like that today?Then I wonder, was the Egyptian learning talking more about temporal learning and the learning of the Jews more spiritual? Can we combine the two in today's world? Do we have the balance in our lives where we can propser and progress in both?