And it came to pass that when I, Nephi, had spoken these words unto my brethren, they were angry with me. And it came to pass that they did lay their hands upon me, for behold, they were exceeding wroth; and they did bind me with cords, for they sought to take away my life, that they might leave me in the wilderness to be devoured by wild beasts. But it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord, saying, O Lord, according to my faith which is in thee, wilt thou deliver me from the hands of my brethren? Yea, even give me strength that I may burst these bands with which I am bound? And it came to pass that when I had said these words, behold, the bands were loosed from off my hands and feet, and I stood before my brethren and I spake unto them again. And it came to pass that they were angry with me again and sought to lay hands upon me. But behold, one of the daughters of Ishmael, yea, and also her mother, and one of the sons of Ishmael, did plead with my brethren, insomuch that they did soften their hearts and they did cease striving to take away my life. And it came to pass that they were sorrowful because of their wickedness, insomuch that they did bow down before me and did plead with me that I would forgive them of the thing that they had done against me. And it came to pass that I did frankly forgive them all that they had done, and I did exhort them that they would pray unto the Lord their God for forgiveness. And it came to pass that they did so. And after they had done praying unto the Lord, we did again travel on our journey towards the tent of our father.
If we take the final statement from Nephi from the last post ...
And now if ye have choice, go up to the land and remember the words which I speak unto you, that if ye go, ye will also perish. For thus the spirit of the Lord constraineth me that I should speak.
... and we put it with the context of this post can we see a revealed principle in practical application?
No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood; only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned, by kindness and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul; without hypocrisy and without guile; reproving betimes with sharpness when moved upon by the holy ghost, and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom you have reproved (lest he esteem you to be his enemy), that he may know that your faithfulness is stronger than the cords of death; (D&C 121:41 - 44, T&C 139 par 6)
Has Nephi at any time exerted any authority or power over Laman or Lemuel or anyone except for persuasion, long suffering, gentleness and meekness and love unfeigned?
When this event of rebellion arises when does Nephi speak?
Does he speak with sharpness?
Do his words still preserve the agency of those he is speaking to?
Could we reasonably state that Nephi is reproving with sharpness because he has been moved upon by the Holy Ghost?
We don't know everything that was involved in this rebellion but what makes this situation different from when Laman and Lemuel were beating Nephi and Sam while they were trying to retrieve the brass plates?
Did Nephi use sharpness then or did he use persuasion?
Why in this situation would it be the will of the Lord to constrain Nephi by His Spirit to reprove sharply when at the time of the beating the Lord sent an angel to stop Laman and Lemuel?
Does this show how important it is to speak by the influence of the Holy Ghost in order to speak in righteousness?
Do these recorded experiences show that Nephi was not on his own errand?
If Nephi had spoken sharply without being moved upon by the Holy Ghost would he have been taking the name of God in vain having spoken without authority?
How important is it that an individual speak in meekness; according to God's will?
Would it be very important for us to each individually consider very seriously our own motives before we give voice to something sharp?
Did Nephi have any personal motive for speaking sharply?
This would appear to be a very delicate matter, speaking sharply.
What about the increase of love that is to be shown afterwards?
As a group we believe that much of the time the cultural context of "love" that we impose on the word "love" in the revelations is misapplied.
For a much greater treatise of this matter we would recommend any searcher to review the transcript "Love Others as Yourself" at restorationarchives.com/library/snuffer.php.
In order to view Nephi's love in this matter we will quote from the above transcript.
A
Is this event meant to demonstrate to us just how serious the Lord is that we forgive each other our tresspasses?
Does Nephi derive any benefit from forgiving his brothers?
In one sense, it is not possible for us to satisfy justice by providing mercy for ourselves. But in another sense, we certainly can do so for others. We cannot atone for other's offenses. But, we can forgive other's trespasses against us. Christ provided the way for us all to be forgiven. But He also taught we should forgive others. He said, "...forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." (JST Matt. 6:13; taken from Joseph Smith's New Translation of the Bible, Original Manuscripts. Edited by Scott H. Faulring, Kent P. Jackson and Robert J. Matthews. Prove: Religious Studies Center Brigham Young University, 2004; p. 247.)
Forgiving others is our duty. Our own forgiveness is dependent upon it. Within our limited capacities, we must also provide mercy to others just as Christ provided mercy to us all. We, in our sphere, must act just as Christ did in His much greater sphere.
Remember that we must become "types" of Him whom we follow. To do so we must mimic Him to acquire His attributes. When we have acquired His attributes, He has claim upon us as one of His own." (Second Comforter, Conversing with the Lord Through the Veil, Denver Snuffer, pgs. 272 - 273)
The Prophet Joseph taught,
I charged the Saints not to follow the example of the adversary in accusing the brethren,9 and
said, “If you do not accuse each other, God will not accuse you. If you have no accuser you will
enter heaven, and if you will follow the revelations and instructions which God gives you through
me, I will take you into heaven as my back load. If you will not accuse me, I will not accuse you.
If you will throw a cloak of charity over my sins, I will over yours—for charity covereth a multitude
of sins. (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 193)
It is a true principle taught by Alma to Corianton that mercy begets mercy and if we send out mercy it will be returned to us because it will become our nature and we will be restored to it.
Now Melchizedek was a man of faith who wrought righteousness. And when a child, he feared God, and stopped the mouths of lions, and quenched the violence of fire. And thus, having been approved of God, he was ordained a high priest after the Order of the covenant which God made with Enoch, it being after the Order of the Son of God, which Order came not by man, nor the will of man, neither by father nor mother, neither by beginning of days nor end of years, but of God. And it was delivered unto men by the calling of his own voice, according to his own will, unto as many as believed on his name. For God, having sworn unto Enoch and unto his seed with an oath by himself that everyone being ordained after this Order and calling should have power, by faith, to break mountains, to divide the seas, to dry up waters, to turn them out of their course, to put at defiance the armies of nations, to divide the earth, to break every band, to stand in the presence of God, to do all things according to his will, according to his command subdue principalities and powers; and this by the will of the Son of God which was from before the foundation of the world. And men having this faith, coming up unto this Order of God, were translated and taken up into Heaven. (JST Genesis 14:26 - 31, OC Genesis 1 pars. 17 - 18)
When Nephi was later bound on the ship while traveling to the promised land was it the will of God that Nephi be able to break his bands?
Did Nephi understand that it was God's will that he remain bound by bands to the mast?
And it came to pass that Laman and Lemuel did take me and bind me with cords, and they did treat me with much harshness. Nevertheless, the Lord suffered it, that he might shew forth his power unto the fulfilling of his word which he had spoken concerning the wicked. And it came to pass that after they had bound me, insomuch that I could not move, the compass which had been prepared of the Lord did cease to work. Wherefore, they knew not whither they should steer the ship, insomuch that there arose a great storm — yea, a great and terrible tempest — and we were driven back upon the waters for the space of three days. And they began to be frightened exceedingly lest they should be drowned in the sea; nevertheless, they did not loose me. And on the fourth day which we had been driven back, the tempest began to be exceeding sore. And it came to pass that we were about to be swallowed up in the depths of the sea. And after we had been driven back upon the waters for the space of four days, my brethren began to see that the judgments of God were upon them, and that they must perish save that they should repent of their iniquities. Wherefore, they came unto me and loosed the bands which were upon my wrists, and behold, they had swollen exceedingly; and also mine ankles were much swollen, and great was the soreness thereof. Nevertheless, I did look unto my God, and I did praise him all the day long, and I did not murmur against the Lord because of mine afflictions. (1 Nephi 18:11 - 16, NC 1 Nephi 5 par. 30)
Nephi understood that the Lord's wisdom was greater than his own.
Now my father Lehi had said many things unto them, and also unto the sons of Ishmael, but behold, they did breathe out much threatenings against anyone that should speak for me. And my parents, being stricken in years and having suffered much grief because of their children, they were brought down, yea, even upon their sickbeds. Because of their grief, and much sorrow, and the iniquity of my brethren, they were brought near even to be carried out of this time to meet their God. Yea, their grey hairs were about to be brought down to lie low in the dust, yea, even they were near to be cast with sorrow into a watery grave. And Jacob and Joseph also being young, having need of much nourishment, were grieved because of the afflictions of their mother. And also my wife with her tears and prayers, and also my children, did not soften the hearts of my brethren that they would loose me. And there was nothing, save it were the power of God which threatened them with destruction, could soften their hearts. Wherefore, when they saw that they were about to be swallowed up in the depths of the sea, they repented of the thing which they had done, insomuch that they loosed me. (1 Nephi 18:17 - 20, NC 1 Nephi 5 par 31)
The Lord, knowing the hearts of Laman and Lemuel, knew what it would take for them to repent.
Is it possible that in the first instance the Lord was giving Laman and Lemuel a sign of Nephi's priesthood in order to persuade them to listen to their younger brother?
Then when the Lord saw that Laman and Lemuel would disregard the words of Nephi even though the Lord had shown a sign through Nephi He decided, in His wisdom, to take the matter into His own hands?
Does this show us how absolutely important it is that a person with such priesthood can be trusted by the Lord to do only His will?
Can this priesthood be passed willy nilly from man to man?
How important is it to look at ourselves and repent of our desires to do our own will?
How important is it for us to exercise faith?
Did Melchizedek, Nephi or any other possessor of this priesthood exercise faith unto mighty works before they received any "priesthood"?
Are these things that we all ought to seriously consider?
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