1 Nephi 6-9

1 Nephi - Lesson 2: 1 Nephi 6-9
Day 1 - Reading assignment: 1 Nephi 6; Genesis 49:22-26; Deuteronomy 33:13-17
1. The brass plates of Laban contained precious genealogical records along with the five books of Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy: The Pentateuch) and other histories and prophecies of Israel. Nephi knew he was a descendant of Joseph, the birthright son of Jacob. Use the passages in Genesis 49:22-26 and Deuteronomy 33:13-17 to list three of the blessings pronounced upon Joseph.


2. Cross-reference 1 Nephi 6:4-6 with 1 Nephi 1:20. What was Nephi’s intent?


3. Following Nephi’s example, list five things you might say as part of a testimony that would be “pleasing unto God and unto those who are not of the world.” Optional: Copy your testimony onto one of the blank pages at the beginning of the Book of Mormon.


Day 2 – Reading assignment: 1 Nephi 7:1-15
4. What was the condition of Ishmael’s heart? How did it get that way?


5. Who from Ishmael’s family rebelled? Read Alma 3:7 and 4 Nephi 1:38, then list the fruits of their rebellion.


6. Lehi was from the tribe of Manasseh (Alma 10:3) and Ishmael from Ephraim (Journal of Discourses 3:184). Erastus Snow (JD 23:184-185) suggests that the choice of Ishmael and his family fulfilled a prophecy by Jacob in Genesis 48:16. In what way(s) did the union of Lehi’s and Ishmael’s families fulfill this prophecy?


7. What is the phrase Nephi repeats three times in vv. 10-12. How does always remembering the Lord bless our lives?


Day 3 – Reading assignment: 1 Nephi 7:15-22
8. How does the story in vv. 16-18 illustrate Nephi’s thesis/mission statement found in 1 Nephi 1:20?


9. Why do you suppose Laman and Lemuel were angry with Nephi?



Day 4 – Reading assignment: 1 Nephi 8:1-12
10. In Lehi’s dream or vision, how long was he traveling in darkness? What is the significance of this traveling in darkness?


11. What did Lehi see after he entreated the Lord for mercy?


12. Describe the fruit of the tree in Lehi’s dream. What was his first desire after having partaken of the fruit?


Day 5 – Reading assignment: 1 Nephi 8:13-20
13. In v.13, Lehi sees a “river of water.” Symbolically, what does water represent to people traveling in a desert?


14. What kind of voice did Lehi use to call his family to the tree in v. 15?


15. Look up the word “strait” in the dictionary. What is the significance of the path being described as “strait” rather than “straight”?


Day 6 – Reading assignment: 1 Nephi 8:21-38
16. These verses describe four groups of people in Lehi’s dream. Give a brief description of each group:
a. vv. 21-23, 31-32


b. vv. 24-25, 28


c. vv. 26-27, 33


d. v. 30


17. List five verbs in vv. 37-38 that express Lehi’s response as a result of his dream.



Day 7 - Reading assignment: 1 Nephi 9 with introductory page titled, “A Brief Explanation About The Book of Mormon” (found just before the table of contents)
18. According to the chapter heading and the explanatory page, what kind of record is contained in Nephi’s small plates?


19. What kind of record did Nephi keep on his large plates?


20. From which plates was 1 Nephi translated?


Extra Credit Reading: “Lehi’s Family Tree,” New Era, January 2004. (Can be found online at http://library.lds.org/nxt/gateway.dll?f=templates$fn=default.htm. Click on the + sign next to “Magazines” in the column to the left; then click the + sign next to “New Era”; then click the + sign next to “2004” and finally the + sign next to “January 2004” – then scroll down and click on the article, “Lehi’s Family Tree.”)