Two Different Perspectives
This week we learned that the Lord gave Lehi’s sons the task to go back to Jerusalem and retrieve the brass planes from king Laban for the intent of preserving their language and retain the commandments that the Lord gave Moses. This was critical for the following to happen to Lehi’s family,
1 Nephi 2:20
And inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper, and shall be led to a land of promise; yea, even a land which I have prepared for you; yea, a land which is choice above all other lands
Without this record they would not have the commandments to teach their families and obtain the promised blessings the had Lord prepared for them.
So after having traveled far from home the boys got to go back, and of the four or them, two of them didn’t want to leave their home in the first place, so the thought of going back and then return to the wilderness must have been unbearable and most likely the cause of the differing attitudes between them and Nephi.
After arriving and an unsuccessful first attempt or getting the plates by Lamen, morale is low but Nephi is not quitting, he says,
1 Nephi 3:15
As the Lord liveth, and as we live, we will not go down unto our father in the wilderness until we have accomplished the thing which the Lord hath commanded us.
They then try to persuade Laban to give up the plates for all their family’s gold and silver but Laban just takes the treasure and commends them to death. By this time Lamen and Lemuel have had it and are just not on the same page as Nephi and just need Nephi to go away. They start beating Nephi and his brother Sam. At this point the Lord’s plan is not trending in the right direction and He sends an angel to remind Laman and Lemuel of His will and plans for Lehi’s family.
Even after an angel from the presence of God commanded them to go back they went right back to murmuring and saying,
1 Nephi 3:31
How is it possible that the Lord will deliver Laban into our hands? Behold, he is a mighty man, and he can command fifty, yea, even he can slay fifty; then why not us?
This is where the perspectives of Nephi and Lamen exact opposites as Nephi testifies,
1 Nephi 4:1,3
let us be faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord; for behold he is mightier than all the earth, then why not mightier than Laban and his fifty, yea, or even than his tens of thousands?
Now behold ye know that this is true; and ye also know that an angel hath spoken unto you; wherefore can ye doubt?
Why such distinct perspectives? Why aren’t the brothers all taking actions to accomplish the commandment the Lord gave their father? Give Lamen and Lemuel a little credit, they walked for days in the wilderness, lost all their wealth and nearly their lives, yet they are right there with Nephi and have not abandoned him, they must have known why this venture was important as evident of the appearance of and Angel. They loved their father and wanted to plead him but were lacking conviction. They were missing that same witness of the Lord that Nephi had when he cried unto the Lord before receiving the commandment to get the plates
1 Nephi 2:16
And it came to pass that I, Nephi, being exceedingly young, nevertheless being large in stature, and also having great desires to know of the mysteries of God, wherefore, I did cry unto the Lord; and behold he did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father; wherefore, I did not rebel against him like unto my brothers.
The invitation of the Lord is to come and follow Him. Nephi found him in prayer as I have and as have many, many people as can all that call on him and having a desire to know Him and his mysteries.