1 Nephi Chapter 17
Summary: After traveling for nearly eight years in the wilderness, Lehi and his family finally end up near the seashore. They call the place Bountiful because it has much fruit. The Lord commands Nephi to build a ship. The Lord provides a way for him to complete this task. His brothers oppose him. Nephi reminds them of the history of how God had dealt with the people of Israel. He is embolden with the Spirit of the Lord and his brothers cannot touch him.
Lessons Taught/To be Learned:
- Despite having seen an angel and many other instances of the God's power, Laman and Lamuel were unable to fully understand and follow the Lords will or his commandments. The spirit speaks to us in a still small voice and many times it is what you feel more than what you hear. Spiritual promptings can come at any time. However, if you are not in tune with your spiritual side, many times you will miss these promptings. Many people are spiritually deadened and past spiritual feeling because of their continued choices to commit sins. Try to be more in tune with the spirit and the chance of receiving spiritual promptings and the gifts of the spirit will increase. If you want the spirit to dwell within you - you need to be in tune with the spirit. You do this by praying often,following God's commandments, and shunning sinful actions.
Key Scriptures (italicized and in quotes):
"13 And I will also be your light in the wilderness; and I will prepare the way before you, if it so be that ye shall keep my commandments; wherefore, inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall be led towards the promised land; and ye shall know that it is by me that ye are led."
"14 Yea, and the Lord said also that: After ye have arrived in the promised land, ye shall know that I, the Lord, am God; and that I, the Lord, did deliver you from destruction; yea, that I did bring you out of the land of Jerusalem."