Scripture Thought 4/7/2009
1 Nephi 3:11
Here we started out with four brothers. They have not really talked much about this assignment of going to Jerusalem. They have been sleeping in tents and traveling for a few days. Now, they find themselves forced to face the task at hand. What do they do? They cast lots. Did they draw straws, play rock, paper, scissors, do an eenie, meenie, mynee, moe, or was it bubble gum, bubble gum?
Why do we cast lots? General it is to see who will be it in a game of tag or to see who will have to take out the trash when no one really wants to. Do you think that any one of these brothers really wanted to go into the city and request an audience with Laban?
With that said, it makes me wonder, what kind of confidence do you think Laman went in to meet with Laban? We know that the really did not want to go on this journey. Now he finds himself tasked with asking Laban for the plates. Do you really think he went in with true desire? Did he believe the Lord was behind him? Did he have true vision of why he was asking for these plates? I don't think so.
Laban could see right through this young man. Did he see the weakness in Laman? Did he feel that he had wasted his time meeting with him? or was he worried that he understand the importance of the plates and felt that he would lose power or prestige if he no longer had them? These are all interesting questions. What can we learn from this experience?
What did Nephi learn from it? We have just read about how he went forward in faith, knowing that the Lord would provide a way for him to get the plates, why didn't he go in the first time? Why did he allow them to cast lots? Maybe he was letting his brothers lead and just following along. I don't know. I do know that I have been in his shoes before. I know that I should have stood up and voiced my beliefs and standards if not taken control of the situation, but at the time, let myself worry about what others might think of me or if it was my place to do so. So, I didn't. In the end, I regretted it.
We must go forth in faith and confidence, believing in the task that we must accomplish. Whether it is reading scriptures, praying, going to church, collecting fast offerings, fulfilling a church assignment, or home and visiting teaching. Find that with in you. Know that he will be with you always if you do.
Here we started out with four brothers. They have not really talked much about this assignment of going to Jerusalem. They have been sleeping in tents and traveling for a few days. Now, they find themselves forced to face the task at hand. What do they do? They cast lots. Did they draw straws, play rock, paper, scissors, do an eenie, meenie, mynee, moe, or was it bubble gum, bubble gum?
Why do we cast lots? General it is to see who will be it in a game of tag or to see who will have to take out the trash when no one really wants to. Do you think that any one of these brothers really wanted to go into the city and request an audience with Laban?
With that said, it makes me wonder, what kind of confidence do you think Laman went in to meet with Laban? We know that the really did not want to go on this journey. Now he finds himself tasked with asking Laban for the plates. Do you really think he went in with true desire? Did he believe the Lord was behind him? Did he have true vision of why he was asking for these plates? I don't think so.
Laban could see right through this young man. Did he see the weakness in Laman? Did he feel that he had wasted his time meeting with him? or was he worried that he understand the importance of the plates and felt that he would lose power or prestige if he no longer had them? These are all interesting questions. What can we learn from this experience?
What did Nephi learn from it? We have just read about how he went forward in faith, knowing that the Lord would provide a way for him to get the plates, why didn't he go in the first time? Why did he allow them to cast lots? Maybe he was letting his brothers lead and just following along. I don't know. I do know that I have been in his shoes before. I know that I should have stood up and voiced my beliefs and standards if not taken control of the situation, but at the time, let myself worry about what others might think of me or if it was my place to do so. So, I didn't. In the end, I regretted it.
We must go forth in faith and confidence, believing in the task that we must accomplish. Whether it is reading scriptures, praying, going to church, collecting fast offerings, fulfilling a church assignment, or home and visiting teaching. Find that with in you. Know that he will be with you always if you do.
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