Book of Mormon Stories Chapter 5

1 Nephi 5

This chapter had some of the most profound lessons for me, as far as conduct in the home. Lehi find himself directly criticized, with name-calling and everything, and in the position of being not just probably right, being absolutely, prophetically right. Yet he is never indignant, never angry. The verb used to describe his demeanor and behavior is comforting.

Something meaningful to aspire to. When last you were confronted with anger, grief, or stress, how comforting were you? Did you criticize or chide before you sought to relieve?

1 And it came to pass that after we had come down into the wilderness unto our father, behold, he was filled with joy, and also my mother, Sariah, was exceedingly glad, for she truly had mourned because of us.

Do you feel like you understand the emotional reactions your parents have to your actions (joy, exceedingly glad, mournful)? What fills your parents with joy?

2 For she had supposed that we had perished in the wilderness; and she also had complained against my father, telling him that he was a visionary man; saying: Behold thou hast led us forth from the land of our inheritance, and my sons are no more, and we perish in the wilderness.

Doubts, complaints; how do you feal with imperfect parents? Be disappointed, forgive, take notes and resolve to be better than them when you grow up? Have you ever seen your mother mourn?

3 And after this manner of language had my mother complained against my father.

How do you think Nephi found out about his mother's complaints?

4 And it had come to pass that my father spake unto her, saying: I know that I am a visionary man; for if I had not seen the things of God in a bvision I should not have known the goodness of God, but had tarried at Jerusalem, and had perished with my brethren.
5 But behold, I have obtained a bland of promise, in the which things I do rejoice; yea, and I know that the Lord will deliver my sons out of the hands of Laban, and bring them down again unto us in the wilderness.

How should a husband respond to his wife when she is upset? Do you admit you admit your weaknesses when confronted, even if the confrontation is unjust?

6 And after this manner of language did my father, Lehi, comfort my mother, Sariah, concerning us, while we journeyed in the wilderness up to the land of Jerusalem, to obtain the record of the Jews.

How did Lehi comfort his wife? Note this section; Lehi's calm response is one of the most profound lessons for husbands in the entire Book of Mormon. Does testimony, does certainty of righteousness, trump kindness (Lehi is still kind to his wife as he bears his testimony)?

8 And she spake, saying: Now I know of a surety that the Lord hath commanded my husband to flee into the wilderness; yea, and I also know of a surety that the Lord hath protected my sons, and delivered them out of the hands of Laban, and given them power whereby they could accomplish the thing which the Lord hath commanded them. And after this manner of language did she speak.

Do we bear testimony to children enough? Do you record your parents' testimonies in your journals?

9 And it came to pass that they did rejoice exceedingly, and did offer sacrifice and burnt offerings unto the Lord; and they gave thanks unto the God of Israel.

What are good reasons to go to the temple?

10 And after they had given thanks unto the God of Israel, my father, Lehi, took the records which were engraven upon the plates of brass, and he did search them from the beginning.

You should read your scriptures from cover to cover!

11 And he beheld that they did contain the five books of Moses, which gave an account of the creation of the world, and also of Adam and Eve, who were our first parents;

How's that sound for a Family Home Evening idea?

12 And also a record of the Jews from the beginning, even down to the commencement of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah;

Do we talk about politics enough? Come to dinner with a current event to discuss!

13 And also the prophecies of the holy prophets, from the beginning, even down to the commencement of the reign of Zedekiah; and also many prophecies which have been spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah.
14 And it came to pass that my father, Lehi, also found upon the plates of brass a genealogy of his fathers; wherefore he knew that he was a descendant of Joseph; yea, even that Joseph who was the son of Jacob, who was sold into Egypt, and who was preserved by the hand of the Lord, that he might preserve his father, Jacob, and all his household from perishing with famine.
15 And they were also aled out of captivity and out of the land of Egypt, by that same God who had preserved them.

Do you know the scriptures as well as we want you toknow them?

16 And thus my father, Lehi, did discover the genealogy of his fathers. And Laban also was a descendant of Joseph, wherefore he and his fathers had kept the records.

Do you think this is the first time Lehi had ever read it? Have you seen the Christmas project the Smiths did of Grandpa Carlson's family history?

17 And now when my father saw all these things, he was filled with the Spirit, and began to prophesy concerning his seed—

What promises or prophesies have we ever made about you kids?

19 Wherefore, he said that these plates of brass should never perish; neither should they be dimmed any more by time. And he prophesied many things concerning his seed.

Listen Listen to the prophet!

20 And it came to pass that thus far I and my father had kept the commandments wherewith the Lord had commanded us.

Can we say that? It is important to be aware when we are obedient; not to be self-congratulatory, but to engage in sober self-judgment.

22 Wherefore, it was wisdom in the Lord that we should carry them with us, as we journeyed in the wilderness towards the land of promise.

What do you think we would go back for? What would we take on our journey.