Nephi 17:4–55; 18:1–4 All his life, Nephi lived by the words I will go and do the thing that the Lord hath commanded for I know that the Lord giveth no commandment unto the children of men save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them. Now the story leads us to the point, where the family reaches the ocean and must cross. I must admit, the vision of the family wandering for 8 years in the desert and finally reaching the land bountiful by the seashore sounds so very nice. It is understandable on some levels why the brothers didn't want to go on. The land was nearly like Eden.
The Lord commands Nephi to build a ship. He didn't reply: I don’t want to; I’ll think about it; I’ll try. In faith he asked the Lord for instructions.
"Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works." James 2:17-18
“This is one of the more interesting stories we have in the scriptures because it tells of an instance in which the Lord provided help but then stepped aside to allow one of His sons to exercise his own initiative. I have sometimes wondered what would have happened if Nephi had asked the Lord for tools instead of a place to find the ore to make the tools. I doubt the Lord would have honored Nephi’s request. You see, the Lord knew that Nephi could make the tools, and it is seldom the Lord will do something for us that we can do for ourselves” L. Tom Perry, Ensign, Nov. 1991, 64.
As usual Laman and Lemuel’s reaction was one of faithless whining 1 Nephi 17:17–22. Reminding them of the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt, Nephi explained their journey was a similar exodus 1 Nephi 17:23–44. The passage where Nephi told Laman and Lemuel that they “were past feeling, that [they] could not feel [the Lord’s] words” has always giving me pause (1 Nephi 17:45). To feel the words of the Lord, is one of the joys and driving forces of my life. When people to become “past feeling,” they have stopped listening; they follow the wrong master.
“The Holy Ghost communicates with the spirit through the mind more than through the physical senses. This guidance comes as thoughts, as feelings, through impressions and promptings. It is not always easy to describe inspiration. The scriptures teach us that we may ‘feel’ the words of spiritual communication more than hear them, and see with spiritual rather than with mortal eyes ” Boyd K. Packer, Ensign, Nov. 1989, 14.
“I fear that some members of the Lord’s Church ‘live far beneath our privileges’ with regard to the gift of the Holy Ghost. Some are distracted by the things of the world that block out the influence of the Holy Ghost, preventing them from recognizing spiritual promptings. This is a noisy and busy world that we live in. Remember that being busy is not necessarily being spiritual. If we are not careful, the things of this world can crowd out the things of the Spirit. Some are spiritually deadened and past feeling because of their choices to commit sin. Others simply hover in spiritual complacency with no desire to rise above themselves and commune with the Infinite. If they would open their hearts to the refining influence of this unspeakable gift of the Holy Ghost, a glorious new spiritual dimension would come to light. Their eyes would gaze upon a vista scarcely imaginable. They could know for themselves things of the Spirit that are choice, precious, and capable of enlarging the soul, expanding the mind, and filling the heart with inexpressible joy” Joseph B. Wirthlin, Ensign, May 2003, 27.
Harden the hearts against the truth, one may be cast off forever 1 Nephi 17:46–47. Laman and Lemuel were prime examples of the thing that is destroying families today, disunity, complaining, murmuring, and selfishness 1 Nephi 17:49. This sort of behavior can affect any family negatively and its not just the children who can be guilty. By practicing charity and faith 18:1–4, by spending time together in prayer and the study of God's Word, and by building strong relationships with family members and the Lord, we overcome family destroying behaviors.
