Scripture Thought 8/30/2009
1 Nephi 3:14-15
Here we read about Laman after he has gone to visit Laban. He fled. Where did he go? Wasn't this the town that he grew up in? Didn't people know him? Where would he hide? Did other people fear Laban as he did? It makes one wonder.
He has drawn the lot of going to Laban and getting the plates. Why would Laban call him a thief? He was not trying to steal them, but he was asking for Laban to give something up. Did Laban recognize the value of these plates? Was he worried that Laman was trying to steal his birthright or lineage? Was he worried about being exposed to something that he did not want the rest of Jerusalem to know about? It is interesting. It does not appear that either one of them value these plates the way they were meant to be valued.
Laban wanted them to prove his position and power in the community. Laman wanted, I don't know, he just wanted them because he was asked to get them. It makes one wonder how he asked?
However, in verse 15, we see that Nephi had a different view of the plates. This was not just another crazy errand his father was sending them on. He believed that it was a errand of the Lord. He may not have completely understood how valueable they were, but he knew that if they were important to the Lord, they were then important to him.
After hearing Laman's report, he did not become fearful. He put his faith in the Lord, reasoned out a plan, and proceeded on faith. I wonder if they prayed about this second mission? They did not draw lots, they did not formulate a plan, the moved forward and followed the spirit.
So, what do we learn.
The information that was found on the brass plates is extremely valuable. This would be the Bible. We need to study them and understand them with the same intent as Lehi and Nephi.
We also need to trust in the Lord. When he give us an errand, calling, commandment; we may not understand the purpose at the moment or know how we are going to accomplish it. We must put our faith in the Lord and move forward as the spirit dictates. The would require us to understand the promptings and whisperings of his voice.
Here we read about Laman after he has gone to visit Laban. He fled. Where did he go? Wasn't this the town that he grew up in? Didn't people know him? Where would he hide? Did other people fear Laban as he did? It makes one wonder.
He has drawn the lot of going to Laban and getting the plates. Why would Laban call him a thief? He was not trying to steal them, but he was asking for Laban to give something up. Did Laban recognize the value of these plates? Was he worried that Laman was trying to steal his birthright or lineage? Was he worried about being exposed to something that he did not want the rest of Jerusalem to know about? It is interesting. It does not appear that either one of them value these plates the way they were meant to be valued.
Laban wanted them to prove his position and power in the community. Laman wanted, I don't know, he just wanted them because he was asked to get them. It makes one wonder how he asked?
However, in verse 15, we see that Nephi had a different view of the plates. This was not just another crazy errand his father was sending them on. He believed that it was a errand of the Lord. He may not have completely understood how valueable they were, but he knew that if they were important to the Lord, they were then important to him.
After hearing Laman's report, he did not become fearful. He put his faith in the Lord, reasoned out a plan, and proceeded on faith. I wonder if they prayed about this second mission? They did not draw lots, they did not formulate a plan, the moved forward and followed the spirit.
So, what do we learn.
The information that was found on the brass plates is extremely valuable. This would be the Bible. We need to study them and understand them with the same intent as Lehi and Nephi.
We also need to trust in the Lord. When he give us an errand, calling, commandment; we may not understand the purpose at the moment or know how we are going to accomplish it. We must put our faith in the Lord and move forward as the spirit dictates. The would require us to understand the promptings and whisperings of his voice.
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