DOCTRINES AND PRINCIPLES IN THIS LESSON:

• The Lord guides His faithful servants (see 1 Nephi 16; 18:12-15, 21-22). •The Lord blesses and strengthens those who keep His commandments (see 1 Nephi 17; 18:8-25).

•We must prepare ourselves to follow the promptings of the Spirit (see 1 Nephi 17:7-11, 44-47; 18:1-4).

Chapter 5 1 Nephi 16-19

The Lord guides His faithful servants. 1 Nephi 16; 18:12-15, 21-221 Nephi 16

10 And it came to pass that as my father arose in the morning, and went forth to the tent door, to his great astonishment he beheld upon the ground a round ball of curious workmanship; and it was of fine brass. And within the ball were two spindles; and the one pointed the way whither we should go into the wilderness. 16 And we did follow the directions of the ball, which led us in the more fertile parts of the wilderness. 28 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the pointers which were in the ball, that they did work according to the faith and diligence and heed which we did give unto them.

Other depictions of the Liahona:

29 And there was also written upon them a new writing, which was plain to be read, which did give us understanding concerning the ways of the Lord; and it was written and changed from time to time, according to the faith and diligence which we gave unto it. And thus we see that by small means the Lord can bring about great things. 30 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did go forth up into the top of the mountain, according to the directions which were given upon the ball.

31 And it came to pass that I did slay wild beasts, insomuch that I did obtain food for our families.

Elder David A. Bednar:

“…Thus, the primary purposes of the Liahona were to provide both direction and instruction during a long and demanding journey. The director was a physical instrument that served as an outward indicator of their inner spiritual standing before God. It worked according to the principles of faith and diligence.

“Just as Lehi was blessed in ancient times, each of us in this day has been given a spiritual compass that can direct and instruct us during our mortal journey. The Holy Ghost was conferred upon you and me as we came out of the world and into the Savior’s Church through baptism and confirmation. By the authority of the holy priesthood we were confirmed as members of the Church and admonished to seek for the constant companionship of ‘the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you’ (John 14:17).

“As we each press forward along the pathway of life, we receive direction from the Holy Ghost just as Lehi was directed through the Liahona. ‘For behold, again I say unto you that if ye will enter in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do’ (2 Nephi 32:5).

“The Holy Ghost operates in our lives precisely as the Liahona did for Lehi and his family, according to our faith and diligence and heed” (in Conference Report, Apr. 2006, 31; or Ensign, May 2006, 30–31).

What are some other guides in our lives that are like the Liahona?

In what ways are these guides like the Liahona?

In what ways do these guides point the way we should go?

What might cause us to miss important messages from these guides?

The Liahona led the people “in the more fertile parts of the wilderness.” How might this apply in our lives?

1 Nephi 16:29 And there was also written upon them a new writing, which was plain to be read, which did give us understanding concerning the ways of the Lord; and it was written and changed from time to time, according to the faith and diligence which we gave unto it. And thus we see that by small means the Lord can bring about great things.

How are these guides “small means”? What are some “great things” that can happen because of these “small means”?

Team: Nephi’s Bow Broke

Summarize what happened in each of the following passages from 1 Nephi 16, and then explain what you think Lehi’s family might have learned from each experience.

ACTIVITY

TEAM 1: Verses 17–19

TEAM 2: Verses 20–21

TEAM 3: Verses 22–23

TEAM 4: Verses 24–29

TEAM 5: Verses 30–31

Even though Lehi murmured, why do you think Nephi went to him for counsel on where to hunt for food? What impresses you about the way Nephi approached his father after making a new bow?

How have you been influenced when you have seen others respond faithfully to trials? How might your responses to trials influence those around you?

How could the experience of Nephi’s broken bow help you if you suddenly lost a job that provided the necessary money to feed and clothe your family?

Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught that adversity can help stimulate necessary growth in our lives:

“May I share some suggestions with you who face … the testing that a wise Heavenly Father determines is needed even when you are living a worthy, righteous life and are obedient to His commandments.

“Just when all seems to be going right, challenges often come in multiple doses applied simultaneously. When those trials are not consequences of your disobedience, they are evidence that the Lord feels you are prepared to grow more (see Proverbs 3:11–12). He therefore gives you experiences that stimulate growth, understanding, and compassion which polish you for your everlasting benefit. To get you from where you are to where He wants you to be requires a lot of stretching, and that generally entails discomfort and pain” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1995, 18; or Ensign, Nov. 1995, 16–17).

The loss of Nephi’s bow raised doubts in Lehi’s colony, causing some to turn from God and focus on the negative. Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles counseled us to turn to the Lord when we face trials:

“I have come to understand how useless it is to dwell on the whys, what ifs, and if onlys for which there likely will be given no answers in mortality. To receive the Lord’s comfort, we must exercise faith. The questions Why me? Why our family? Why now? are usually unanswerable questions. These questions detract from our spirituality and can destroy our faith. We need to spend our time and energy building our faith by turning to the Lord and asking for strength to overcome the pains and trials of this world and to endure to the end for greater understanding” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1998, 16; or Ensign, Nov. 1998, 14–15).

Murmuring and complaining seemed to have become second nature for Laman and Lemuel. Even Lehi had become discouraged enough that he murmured. Elder Marion D. Hanks of the Presidency of the Seventy emphasized Nephi’s great character in how he approached this crisis:

“What to do? Nephi says he made a bow and an arrow out of some available wood, got a sling and stones and, ‘I said unto my Father, “Whither shall I go to obtain food?”’ It is a simple thing, isn’t it? … This means that Nephi went to his father and said, ‘Dad, the Lord has blessed you. You are his servant. I need to know where to go to get food. Dad, you ask him, will you?’ Oh, he could have gone to his own knees. He could have taken over.

“I count this one of the really significant lessons of life in the book, and, I repeat, the pages are full of them. A son who had strength enough, and humility enough, and manliness enough to go to his wavering superior and say, ‘You ask God, will you?’ because somehow he knew this is how you make men strong, that wise confidence in men builds them. Lehi asked God and God told him, and Lehi’s leadership was restored” (Steps to Learning, Brigham Young University Speeches of the Year [May 4, 1960], 7).

The Lord blesses and strengthens those who keep His commandments. 1 Nephi 17; 18:8-25

In addition to guiding Lehi’s family with the Liahona, the Lord helped them in other ways:

ACTIVITY

GROUP 1: 1 Nephi 17:1–14

GROUP 2: 1 Nephi 17:45–55

GROUP 3: 1 Nephi 18:10–25

GROUPRead the scripture passages, and look for ways

in which the Lord showed forth His “tender mercies”

In an effort to convince his brothers that God wanted the family to travel to the land of promise, Nephi compared their circumstances to the children of Israel who left Egypt and journeyed to a promised land.

How do you think Lehi’s family might have benefited from remembering the experience of the children of Israel?

In what ways do you benefit from learning about the journeys of Lehi’s family and the ancient Israelites?

The scriptures often contain if-then statements. The Lord tells us that if we will do a certain thing, then He will bless us in a certain way.

What if-then relationship do you see in these passages?

1 Nephi 17:13 And I will also be your alight in the wilderness; and I will prepare the way before you, if it so be that ye shall keep my commandments; wherefore, inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall be led towards the promised land; and ye shall know that it is by me that ye are led.

Omni 1:6 For the Lord would not suffer, after he had led them out of the land of Jerusalem and kept and preserved them from falling into the hands of their enemies, yea, he would not suffer that the words should not be verified, which he spake unto our fathers, saying that: Inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall not prosper in the land.

Ether 12:12 For if there be no faith among the children of men God can do no miracle among them; wherefore, he showed not himself until after their faith.

Disobedience always brings suffering, even though the suffering does not always come as immediately or as obviously as it did for Lehi’s family.

In what ways did Nephi suffer because of the disobedience of others?

Why do you think the Lord allowed Nephi to remain tied up for so long instead of freeing him miraculously as He did in 1 Nephi 7:18; 16:39; and 17:48?

How did everyone in the group eventually suffer because of the rebellion?

What can we learn from these examples?

We must prepare ourselves to follow the promptings of the Spirit.

1 Nephi 17:7-11, 44-47; 18:1-4 1 Ne 17:45 Ye are swift to do iniquity but slow to remember the Lord your God. Ye have seen an angel, and he spake unto you; yea, ye have heard his voice from time to time; and he hath spoken unto you in a still small voice, but ye were past feeling, that ye could not feel his words; wherefore, he has spoken unto you like unto the voice of thunder, which did cause the earth to shake as if it were to divide asunder.

What do you think it means to be “past feeling”?

What choices had Laman and Lemuel made that had led them to become “past feeling”?

1 Nephi 177 And it came to pass that after I, Nephi, had been in the land of Bountiful for the space of many days, the voice of the Lord came unto me, saying: Arise, and get thee into the mountain. And it came to pass that I arose and went up into the mountain, and cried unto the Lord.

8 And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto me, saying: Thou shalt construct a ship, after the manner which I shall show thee, that I may carry thy people across these waters.

9 And I said: Lord, whither shall I go that I may find ore to molten, that I may make tools to construct the ship after the manner which thou hast shown unto me?

10 And it came to pass that the Lord told me whither I should go to find ore, that I might make tools.

11 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did make a bellows wherewith to blow the fire, of the skins of beasts; and after I had made a bellows, that I might have wherewith to blow the fire, I did smite two stones together that I might make fire.

What did Nephi do that helped him communicate with God?

1 Nephi 181 And it came to pass that they did worship the Lord, and did go forth with me; and we did work timbers of curious workmanship. And the Lord did show me from time to time after what manner I should work the timbers of the ship.

2 Now I, Nephi, did not work the timbers after the manner which was learned by men, neither did I build the ship after the manner of men; but I did build it after the manner which the Lord had shown unto me; wherefore, it was not after the manner of men.

3 And I, Nephi, did go into the mount oft, and I did pray oft unto the Lord; wherefore the Lord showed unto me great things.

4 And it came to pass that after I had finished the ship, according to the word of the Lord, my brethren beheld that it was good, and that the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine; wherefore, they did humble themselves again before the Lord.

The Lord showed Nephi how to build the ship “from time to time.” Why do you think it was helpful for Nephi to learn a little bit at a time rather than receiving everything all at once?

Why was it important for Nephi to follow the Lord’s instructions before the Lord would teach him more?

2 Nephi 28:30 For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have.

In what ways did Nephi demonstrate trust in the Lord?

What can we do to follow Nephi’s example and build a life that, like Nephi’s ship, is “exceedingly fine” in the eyes of the Lord?