1 Nephi 10

“For he is the same yesterday, today, and forever…wherefore, the course of the Lord is one eternal round.” (1 Nephi 10:18-19)

v. 3: This echoes many of the prophecies of the Old Testament, particularly Isaiah, whom Lehi possibly was old enough to have if not personally met Isaiah, then surely knew people who knew Isaiah.

v.4-6: This is the most fascinating prophecy EVER because Lehi is told specifically when the Savior would come. How often does that happen? Especially in our day, knowing so much about what is to come in the future, except for the date of its happening. It is possible that although not indicated in our Old Testament there were other prophets or records that contained this prophecy, we simply do not know. But this much we do know, the Jews were very aware of the fact that a redeemer was promised to deliver ALL mankind from their lost and fallen state. The symbolism of the many sacrifices they offered was not lost on the faithful.

v.7-10: Lehi was so struck with the story of John the Baptist, Nephi said that “much spake my father concerning this thing.” He must have had some personal connection, perhaps gained some great insight through reading of him. This is also interesting because the Book of Mormon prophets speak very plainly of baptism long before the time of Christ. This is because the ordinance of baptism has been in place since the foundation of the world. It was not a “new” doctrine introduced by Christ. Although nearly all references to baptism have been lost from our Old Testament it is clear that not just the Book of Mormon Jews practiced baptism. If the doctrine was not understood by the Jews in Jerusalem why then would the multitudes in Isreal have flocked to John for baptism (and this before Christ began his ministry)?

v. 11: Lehi knew, even at this early date, the fate that awaited the Messiah. He knew that he would be killed by the Jews, resurrected, and that through his spirit (not personally) the gospel would be preached to the Gentiles, all events which confused and astounded even some of Christ’s most trusted disciples.

v. 12-15: Lehi recognizes that their journeying from Jerusalem are a part of the Lord’s scattering of the House of Israel over all the earth. Why is there so much on this topic in the Book of Mormon and why did the writers of the Book of Mormon care so much about it? It is because, first and foremost, the scattering was something that was happening to them as they were writing! It is because they knew that the coming forth of the Book of Mormon was the sign that the great gathering had finally begun, and that we, the reader, would need to know about it because we would take part in it! But most of all, the scattering and gathering is so important because that is the medium the Lord chose to employ to spread the covenant to all the nations of the earth and their dead, thus blessing all of His children with the fullness of the gospel.

v. 16-19: This is just the best passage ever on how we gain a testimony. I like it better, even, than Moroni 10:3-5. Nephi had just gotten an earful, much of it probably confusing. Parts of it may even had been hard for Nephi to accept. But it was information of such importance that Nephi could not ignore it, he had to know, and he did come to know. And so can anybody.

v. 20-21: This sounds kinda scary, I suppose: no unclean can dwell in the presence of God and all of that. But what does he say: “if ye have sought to do wickedly…then are ye found unclean.” This is a warning to those who would choose to do evil. Don’t ever choose to do evil. That’s just stupid. If you do it on accident, okay, whatever, repent, it happens. But to go actively looking and seeking to do wicked is just dumb. So reading into this then, if we are going to be judged on our doings it would be in our interest to have some good ones for God to look at, huh? The test of life is about much more than a checklist of things to not do, it is a test of what we become, what we DO with our life.