Book of Mormon Studies (26 April 1928)

BOOK OF MORMON STUDIES1

The Sea Journey: “When Nephi had finished the ship all the company went on board and at once put out to sea. The vessel was then driven by the winds towards the promised land. After they had been sailing prosperously for a number of days the hearts of Nephi’s brothers and of the sons of Ishmael and others grew merry and in their merriment they forgot the Lord. They danced and sang and became very boisterous and rude. Nephi reproved them. This opened the old sore. They said they would not have him for their ruler, but would do as they pleased. Then they seized him and bound him, hands and feet, so tightly that he suffered a great deal.

“The result was that the Lord was angry at their wickedness, and the Liahona ceased to work. A heavy storm arose; a head wind drove them back upon the waters; the waves threatened to engulf them, and they were all in danger of being drowned. For three days the rebels continued stubborn in their anger; during that time they would not loose Nephi, and every one who pled for him or spoke in his favour was threatened with like tortures. But at last, on the fourth day, the danger grew so threatening that they released him; but his legs and arms had swollen so greatly by reason of the way in which he had been tied that he could scarcely use them. Notwithstanding his great weakness and sufferings, as soon as he was loosed he took the Liahona and in his hands it began to work. Then the wind fell; the storm ceased anti there came a great calm. Nephi took charge of the ship and guided it without further trouble to the promised land.”2

The Promised Land: “When Lehi and his people reached the promised land and disembarked and pitched their tents, they acknowledged that the Lord had indeed fulfilled His promises unto them. He had guided them through the wilderness, and had enabled them to construct a vessel in which He had brought them safely across the mighty breadth of ocean that extended from Arabia to the coast of what is now called South America. The Prophet Joseph Smith, in speaking of their place of landing, said it was on the coast of the country now known as Chili—a country that possesses a genial, temperate and healthful climate. They then prepared the ground and put in all the seeds that they had brought with them from the land of Jerusalem. They found the soil admirably adapted for agriculture. Their seeds grew and yielded good crops and they were blessed with abundance.

“In exploring the wilderness after their arrival they found animals of every kind—the cow, the ox, the ass and the horse, the goat and the wild goat, and all manner of wild animals which were for the use of man; they also found ores of all kinds, par­ticularly of gold, silver and copper. The animals they tamed for their use, and Nephi and his people raised large flocks and herds of animals of various kinds.”3

“The people of Lehi were so few in number that they were a quiet and solemn race, with few amusements, but with an oppressing sense of the vastness of the land which they occupied, and of their own insignificance. Nor was there entire peace amongst them, for Laman and Lemuel, with others, were still fractions and turbulent.

“In the course of time Lehi felt that his earthly life was near its close, for he was aged and in failing health. So he called to him his sons and daughters and the other members of his colony, and blessed them in the same manner as his forefather Jacob blessed his family before he died. Lehi also prophesied many things that should happen to his posterity after him, for he was possessed of much of the Spirit of the Lord. After he had done this he died and was buried.”4

QUESTIONS

1. Who was Zenos and why should we remember him?
2. What is the fate of those who fight against Zion and how is their fate foretold in the Book of Mormon? 1 Nephi, chapter 22.
3. Relate the important points of 2 Nephi, chapter 1.
4. Who was Jacob and what was Lehi’s message to him?
5. What important prophecy was given to Joseph by Lehi? How has it been fulfilled?
6. What important events are told in 2 Nephi, chapter 5. What happened to the rebellious sons and why?
7. What are the main points of Jacob’s teachings to the descendants of Lehi?
8. Is the mention of the horse in the Book of Mormon an evidence of its truth or its falsity, and why? Read the article on “The Horse in Ancient America” which follows.

• 1. Lesson 10 of the Relief Society Course of Study—for use on the second lesson night in May.
• 2. Deseret Sunday School Union Leaflets, February, 1896.
• 3. Deseret Sunday School Union Leaflets, February, 1896.
• 4. Ibid.