I and My Brethren Did Consult One with Another

1 Nephi 3:9 - 14, NC 1 Nephi 1 par. 11

And I, Nephi, and my brethren took our journey in the wilderness with our tents to go up to the land of Jerusalem.  And it came to pass that when we had gone up to the land of Jerusalem, I and my brethren did consult one with another; and we cast lots: who of us should go in unto the house of Laban.  And it came to pass that the lot fell upon Laman, and Laman went in unto the house of Laban, and he talked with him as he sat in his house.  And he desired of Laban the records which were engraven upon the plates of brass which contained the genealogy of my father.  And behold it came to pass that Laban was angry and thrust him out from his presence, and he would not that he should have the records.  Wherefore, he said unto him, Behold thou art a robber and I will slay thee.  But Laman fled out of his presence and told the things which Laban had done to us."

As we look at this event, is it important that although Nephi has been told by his father Lehi that he, Nephi, would be favored because he had not murmured Nephi does not try to take control?

We are told that they "...did consult one with another."

They have a discussion together as to what is to be done.

In this discussion was everyone's input considered equally?

Do we have any indication that Nephi, the favored one, tried to dominate the discussion or dictate what was to be done?

Why does God have this detail included in the account?

Why not simply say that when they got to Jerusalem Laman went in to see Laban?

Is God showing us with this simple event how one who is truly "favored" by Him acts among his/her brethren (his/her peers); in this case brothers but could the word brethren include those outside of a family relationship?

Would we consider that Nephi should have "presided" in this meeting together with his brothers?

If Nephi is favored of the Lord isn't he above his brothers in standing?

If we return to the attribute of meekness we discussed in the last post we see some other characteristics that exist in a meek individual.

"Meekness, among other things, involves a conscious effort to avoid harming or offending others.  It requires an absence of pride or self-will.  It is not insistent upon being recognized or applauded.  It denotes a willingness to suffer without complaint.  Others may never recognize the meek, because meekness does not vaunt itself or demand notice.  There is great freedom in meekness.  It relieves the meek from the burden of seeking their acclaim.  It gives them the security of feeling God's approval for their course of living.  It is private.  Meekness means a person voluntarily restrains themself and uses the absolute minimum control or authority over others.  It is related to humility.  Humility is voluntary submission to the control or power of God; or in other words obedience.  Meekness affects a person's relationship with their fellow man.  There is nothing showy or attention grabbing about the meek.  Instead, they are content to know they have a relationship and power with God.  Unless God requires something to be done, or revealed, the meek do not voluntarily put this authority on display." (The Second Comforter, pg. 234 and Beloved Enos, pg. 98)

Do Nephi's actions display meekness?

How does the Lord view "greatness"?

What does the Lord think of "presiding authority"?

"Then spoke Jesus to the multitude and to his disciples, saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat.  All therefore whatever they bid you observe, they will make you observe and do, for they are ministers of the law and they make themselves your judges.  But do not after their works, for they say, and do not.  For they bind heavy burdens and lay on men's shoulders and they are greivous to be borne, but they will not move them with one of their fingers.  And all their works they do to be seen of men.  They make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, and love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi - which is Master.  But be not called Rabbi, for one is your Master, who is Christ, and all you are brethren.  And call no one your creator upon the earth, or your Heavenly Father, for one is your creator and Heavenly Father, even he who is in Heaven.  Neither be called Master, for one is your Master, even he whom your Heavenly Father sent, who is Christ; for he has sent him among you that you might have life.  But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant, and whoever shall exalt himself shall be abased of him, and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted of him." (Matthew 22:1 - 12, NC Matthew 10 pars. 25 - 26)

Here the Lord clarifies that "brethren" means all of us in relation to each other.

Is this why the Lord used the word "brethren" with Nephi and his brothers instead of saying "my brothers"?

Does He want us to use this principle in the greatest extent of the application; our interrelationship with everyone, not just family?

The Pharisees and scribes deligated.  They put the burdens on other men's backs because they were the "judges in Israel" so to speak.  The Lord even declared, "...they make themselves your judges."  They could not take time to do the work themselves.

They delegated the work to be done out to others who were "under" them.  The Lord referred to this as placing burdens grievous to be borne on other men's shoulders.

The leaders of the day during the ministry of the Lord would sit high and lifted up above congregants. That is descibed by the Lord as the leaders seeking the uppermost rooms at the feasts and the chief seats at the synagogues.

Public image was of the utmost importance.  In our day we would say that they were "protecting the good name of the synagogue (church)."

Is it possible people would stand when the scribes and Pharisees entered the room?

Those individuals found disobeying them, the leaders, were excommunicated; or in the terms of the time "cast out of the synagogue."

They loved to be called by the title "Rabbi", which today might be "President", "Elder", "Bishop", "Father", "Reverend", "Beloved Prophet", and so forth.

The Pharisees and scribes would quote each other in their teachings because they were the leaders.

Would it be good for us to look for similarities today to avoid following what the Lord was decrying?

The Lord, the greatest of all was found always serving and sacrificing.

The Lord, abased Himself; descending below all things so that He would be able to be in and through all things.

If we exalt ourself above others what does the Lord declare will happen to us?

If we humble ourselves below others what does the Lord declare will happen to us?

What would be one of the signs of someone among us who is truly great in the eyes of God; one who is "favored" of God?

Here is an example from the Book of Mormon of one who is "favored" of God.

"And it came to pass that the multitude went forth and thrust their hands into his side and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet.  And this they did do, going forth one by one, until they had all gone forth and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands and did know of a surety and did bear record that it was he, of whom it was written by the prophets should come.  and it came to pass that when they had all gone forth and had witnessed for themselves they did cry out with one accord, saying, Hosanna, Blessed be the name of the Most High God!  And they did fall down at the feet of Jesus and did worship him.  And it came to pass that he spake unto Nephi (for Nephi was among the multitude) and commanded him that he should come forth.  and Nephi arose and went forth and bowed himself before the Lord and he did kiss his feet." (3 Nephi 11:15 - 19, NC 3 Nephi 5 pars. 6 - 8)

Does the record say Nephi was in front of or above anyone in the multitude as they came forward and felt the sacred marks in the Savior's body?

Where was Nephi when the Lord called to him?

Was he considered the second "presiding" authority on the rostrum before the multitude (what we might refer to as a congregation)?

Was Nephi, who was favored of God, of an attitude that he was any greater or better or more privileged than anyone else in the multitude?

Would it be wise for us to consider these things as we are tested in this life to see if we can distinguish between the words of God as delivered by those who are truly favored of Him and those words spoken by pretenders who the Lord referred to as thieves and robbers?

It would appear that they decided to go in and ask for the brass plates.

They cast lots to determine who should go.

Again, notice the absence of Nephi declaring that he was "favored" and should go or declaring that Laman should go.

What about casting lots?  Why would they cast lots?

"...There is a method that we haven't tried, so far as I know.  That would be to use "lots" to choose from every male in the church.  This method was used to fill Judas' vacancy in the original Twelve in Jerusalem. (Acts 1:21 - 26)  The description there is ambiguous, but was intended to be random, unpredictable and not just a vote.  It was a recognized way to choose someone. (See, e.g., 1 Ne. 3:11)  It has been used to sort through the entire nation of Israel when all twelve tribes were assembled.  Someone had stolen and idol, resulting in the withdrawal of the Lord's Spirit from them in battle.  The result was defeat for Israel and the death of many men.  They needed to find the one who committed the offense.  So they had to choose from the entire gathering of all twelve tribes.  Beginning at the tribe level, they sorted through to find the right tribe (Judah).  Then proceeded to sort through the tribe to locate the larger family involved (Zarhites).  Then went through the family to find the individual involved (Achan).  The whole thing is in the scriptures. (Joshua 7:13 - 23)  Such a system was uncontrolled by man, done by lot, completely random, but produced the right person.  Left to God, it obtained God's answer.  Did with the sons of Lehi, and with the vacancy in the Twelve in the Book of Acts, too.  There is no reason why such a system wouldn't generate the Lord's choice today." ("Prophet, Seer, Revelator", Denver Snuffer, blog post, 21/May/2010)

Is there a reason the Lord would want Laman to have the first crack at getting the plates?

If the Lord controlled the outcome of casting lots, was the Lord intentionally setting up Laman to fail?

Was it Laman's idea to simply ask for the plates or had they all determined when they consulted together that asking for them was the best route; they just wanted to know who should go?

Was Laman, at very least, maybe a little bit believing by accepting the outcome of casting lots?

Did the Lord love Laman just as much as He loved Nephi?

Laman was the first born of Lehi.

Would it be possible that the Lord, who is loving, wanted to give Laman as many chances as He could to succeed?

Did Laman fail in God's eyes because of his ill fated attempt to get the plates from Laban?

Was failure before God to be determined by Laban's rejection of Laman's request?

Would an attempt by Nephi to simply ask Laban for the plates of brass, had he been chosen by lot, been met with a different result than was Laman's request?

Did Nephi's first suggestion of how to get the plates from Laban end in success?

Does that mean that Nephi failed before God as well, because Laban rebuffed them again?

What was the real test here?

What do we learn here?

Do we ridicule Laman in his attempt, thereby accusing one of our brethren?

Would that be more of a reflection of our own hearts than of Laman's heart to judge him so?