16. Faith

CHAPTER 16

FAITH

Nephi didn’t have to wait much longer.  His son appeared at the open doorway to his hut.  With the wave of his hand, Nephi motioned for his son to step inside.  They embraced each other tenderly.

 “Hello, Father.  Are you well?”

“Neffy.  Quite, thank you, and you?”

The greeting was too polite and too formal.  They felt stiff and awkward.  This was so out of character for such an uncomfortable moment to exist between them. There were no broad smiles, hearty pats on the back, or looks of delight in their eyes as usual.  Their embrace conveyed a strange mixture of emotions; unending love underneath extreme sadness.

They sat down together.  Neither father nor son knew what to say first.

Finally, the older Nephi began, “Have you recovered from the hike up to the Eagles’ Nest?  The night spent in the sacred record vault?”

“Physically, sure.  Emotionally, not quite so much.  …Oh, father, … I feel so small and weak and so unworthy of such great trust by the Lord!   Perhaps my faith is too weak, and ….”

“I understand perfectly,” interrupted his father.  “I felt the same way when my father entrusted me with the records.  I still do to a certain extent.  Honestly, I think it’s good to feel that way.”

“I understand, father.  Still, there must be something more I should know, or something else I should do first, isn’t there?  Do I really know enough?  What else can you tell me?  I mean, I’ve had so many thoughts go through my head at the same time since going to the sacred record vault that I can’t keep them all straight.  It’s been hard to think clearly or decide what to do next.  I haven’t been able to sleep very well.”

“It’ll get better, Neffy.  It’ll get better.  You don’t need any more advice or instructions from me.  Simply follow the Spirit of the Lord at all times.  Do that, and you can’t go wrong.

“But if you’ll permit me, I would like to give you a father’s blessing before we part today.  Would that be all right with you?”

“Thank you!  I was hoping to ask you for one myself.  I’d been trying to decide how to ask you for that favor.”

“Favor?  I don’t view a father’s blessing as a favor.  Neffy, I desire to leave you my blessing.  It will be an honor and a privilege for me. 

“But first, let me share with you this letter written by your Uncle Lehi in the land northward.  A good brother, Hantuman, delivered it to me personally a few days ago.  He has a ship that will soon take needed supplies back to the land northward.  When I first met this brother, I could see why Lehi likes him so much.  Hantuman has many fine qualities.  He is someone you can trust with your life.

“Hantuman tells me that the majority of the people in the land northward have rejected Lehi’s preaching.  Those in power are persecuting anyone who expresses belief in Christ.  Despite the persecution and risks, Hantuman asked Lehi to baptize him.  He remains faithful and is willing to sacrifice whatever he can to help Lehi.

“Hantuman’s skills and experience have helped him develop a prosperous shipping business.  Timber is scarce in the land northward.  As a result, the people allow Hantuman to run his business.  As long as he continues to ship timber to the land northward, they do not persecute him.  Timber in the land northward sells at a good price.  Consequently, Hantuman has earned a considerable amount of money and owns a fine ship.  He intends to take more timber and other provisions to the land northward right away.  He is able to take people who wish to travel to the land northward as well.

“Anyway, here.  Maybe you should read this letter from Lehi for yourself.  Then we can talk about it if you want to.” 

Nephi handed his son a letter written on a rolled up piece of leather.  Young Nephi took the letter from his father, unrolled it, and began to read.

Dearest Brother Nephi,

May these words find you well and bring you cause to rejoice in remembering the tender mercies of our loving God.  If we remain faithful, He will provide a way for us to accomplish all things which are not contrary to His will.  I am asking my friend Hantuman to deliver these words to you in my place.  He is a brother prepared by the Lord and comes to us in our time of need as an angel of mercy.  He has sacrificed much for the work of the Lord and is willing to sacrifice his life to help me.  He has been my Amulek.

Hantuman is a descendant of Hagoth and has much knowledge concerning the building and sailing of ships.  His experience on the sea will help us find our way back to the land of our forefathers.  Or, perhaps I should have written that when we put our trust in God’s hands to guide us across the many waters, Hantuman’s ship and his experience will be the way that God can bless us.

Hantuman has traveled great distances while assisting people in the migration to the land northward.  He once sailed west many days from the coast of the sea west and found several small islands where a great variety of unique birds and animals never before seen are dwelling.  He believes a way can be found to the land of our forefathers beyond those islands.  His ship is an ark of refuge against the storms and the waves.  Hantuman believes that it is possible to survive for days and perhaps even many months upon the mighty waters.

When Hantuman returns with his next shipment of provisions for those of us in the land northward, I pray that you, dear brother, may be with him.  My heart will rejoice when I see you again.

I am allowed to live so that Hantuman will return with more provisions.  If provisions arrive, they promise to set me free, but they lie!  As you know, the preaching of the word of God angers the people here.  I am pained by their ongoing wickedness.  Despite my continual exhortations, they turn a deaf ear to my preachings and cries for repentance.  The threats and contentious ways of the most powerful are keeping others from listening to my words.

Except for Hantuman, few will believe in the prophecies of Christ.  The philosophy of the Nehors is more strongly accepted here than in Zarahemla.  Believers are severely persecuted and punished for their beliefs unless they deny the Christ.  People take pride in their possessions and seek greater wealth than their neighbors.  As a result, strife and hatred and envy are rampant throughout the land.  I had hoped to convey to you more pleasant news, but that is the sad state of my existence here.

Nevertheless, I rejoice that our Lord Jesus Christ has been mindful of us, and called us to His holy work.  I pray for you always, my brother in Christ.  May His infinite goodness and grace keep you through endurance of faith on His name to the end.  Amen.

Nephi finished reading the letter and groaned out loud, “So Uncle Lehi’s a hostage!?”

“I am afraid that could be true,” his father responded somewhat begrudgingly.

“Then they will kill you too, you know!  If you return with Hantuman, they will kill you too!  Lehi says as much.  They’re liars!  He doesn’t think they will set him free!  And they will kill you both!  You can’t go there with Hantuman.  They know you believe!  You won’t ever deny your testimony!  So why would you go!?”

“Neffy!  Son, calm down.  Please, let me speak.  First of all, Lehi does not say anything about kill, does he?  No!  He said, ‘they promise to set me free.’  So there.

“Besides, haven’t I already been saved by the Lord in similar situations in the past?  Yes!  That is why Lehi began his letter by mentioning to remember the tender mercies of the Lord.

“Does Lehi fear being killed?  No!  Quite the opposite.  Lehi writes with faith by noting that with Hantuman the Lord is actually providing the way for us to cross the many waters.  This is how we can reach the land of our forefathers.

“The Lord expects us to put our faith in Him.  The farmer doesn’t know for sure that he’ll eat his crop when he puts seeds in the ground.  He plants the seeds with the hope they’ll grow.  So too, I must act.  I’m leaving on the ship with Hantuman with the hope that it is the Lord’s way to make it to the land of our forefathers.

“Do I fear being killed?  No!  Lehi writes that his heart will rejoice to see me again.  Would he say that if he believed I would be killed the moment I arrived?”

Nephi could not question the faith of his father.  Inside, he already shared his father’s faith.  Nevertheless, he had to protest somehow to tell his father he would miss him.

“At the very least, you’ll be cast into prison!”  It was the best protest he could come up with.

“Been there before!”  The older Nephi knew what his son was saying even though the spoken words didn’t say it.

“And you volunteer to go there again!?”

The father and the son both had tears in their eyes.  It would be useless to protest or debate about the answers to indefinite questions.  No words were needed.  It was somehow clear that they were united in their faith and that they would have to trust in their God for all the unknowns of the future.

At length, Nephi asked his father meekly, “When does Hantuman plan to return with his ship to the land northward?”

“Soon.  Right away, actually.  Everything here in the hut is ready and…well…”

“I see.  I…” 

“Neffy, I only have two things I need you to do with the sacred records.”

“Of course, father.  Anything!”

          “First, you may write that I departed out from the land of Zarahemla, but you are forbidden to write where I am going.”

          “Why?”

          “Because the record you are to write is not to be about me, and others are ordained to write the things which are to come forth in their purity, according to the truth which is in the Lamb in the own due time of the Lord.”

          “All right.  And the second request?”

          “When the prophecy of Samuel the Lamanite is fulfilled, when the day comes that the Son of God is glorified and saints arise from the dead, I want you to remember to write in the sacred record that it was so, even as Samuel said it would be.”

          “I will remember, father.”

          “Good.  That’s it, then.”

          Nothing else needed to be said.  Only good-bye.

Father Nephi rose to his feet.  His son fell to his knees.  Nephi placed both of his hands on his son’s head and gave him a father’s blessing.

          “My dear son, Nephi.  Thou art chosen to bless thy brethren with the power of the word of God.  Thou hast charge of the plates of brass, the holy director, and all the records which have been kept sacred from the departure of Lehi out of Jerusalem, the land of our forefathers.  Many generations have passed away since Lehi’s day, and many of our fathers have looked forward with anticipation to this day and the coming of Christ.

“Thou art blessed to see the fulfillment of prophecy.  Thou shalt be blessed to call upon the Lord and He shall hear thy cries unto Him.  Thou shalt behold many mighty miracles.  Thou art blessed to see the signs, the wonders, and the manifestations of the power of God.  Thou art blessed to prosper in this land and to bring peace after times of bloodshed.  Thou art chosen to become a special witness of Christ.  The Lord will bless thee with power to establish His kingdom here among thy people.  Thou wilt be instrumental in bringing the ordinances of salvation to His children.  Thy name and thy works shall be remembered for many generations after thee.   Thou shalt have everlasting joy in the work of the ministry. 

“Thou shalt be protected from death and from the chains of hell because of thy righteous desires and thy special calling as a servant of the Holy God.  I bless thee, Nephi, with increased faith, hope, and charity towards all men.  I bless thee with the promise that we shall be together again, in the eternal day, according to the power granted the Son, in that He comes to earth to complete the will of His Father, and will save all who repent and come unto Him.

“I thank my God for thee, my dear son, and declare unto thee that nothing can separate me from my abiding love for thee.  Be strong and fear not what the adversary can do.  I bless thee to know of my undying love at all times.  In the holy name of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  Amen.”

          Nephi reached down and pulled his adult son to his feet and held him tightly in his arms for a cherished moment or two.

Everything said after that was rather anticlimactic.  The unspoken understanding was that all conversation would purposefully avoid the imminent separation.  Instead of talking about the difficult future, remembering the past was easier.

The future was one question after another.  What reception would Nephi and Hantuman receive in the land northward?  Would they even be able to make it to the land northward?  What about Lehi?  Is he still all right?  If in prison, would they be able to free him?  Beyond that, what about Jerusalem?  Does it even make sense to think about Jerusalem?  How far is it?  How long could it take to get there?  Even if they do get there, would they be able to find Christ?  How would they know Him?  And return?  The future did not end.

The past had answers.  Even the seemingly unimportant things of the past had significance.  The favorite songs they sang as a family.  The games they had played with mother.  The home they had built by the lake.  The time when little Neffy was almost four years old and tried to shoot an arrow at a bird.  He missed the bird, but the arrow ended up hitting the beehive.  My, how those bees had made little Neffy aware of their displeasure!  Mother had to stay up all night that night; kept applying and re-applying a soothing ointment to lessen the pain.  The past was safer.  The past had memories with definite conclusions.

But the time for father and son to share memories eventually ran out.  Nephi realized that if he stayed any longer in his father’s house, his deepest emotions would begin to burst out in a flash flood.  In order for that not to happen, he bid his father farewell in a manner that he knew at the time was much too quick, much too casual.

“Abba, I’ll never forsake you.  I’ll wait for you to come back.  No matter how long it takes.”

Son Nephi bravely began the sad walk in the direction of his own hut.  He told himself to not look back.

Father Nephi had to let his son go.  Tears filled his eyes and left tracks down his cheeks.  He watched from the open doorway of his hut as his son departed.   At the last point, beyond hearing distance, right before his son disappeared from view where the path turned to the left, he heard his own voice lament, “Adieu, Neffy, adieu.”

          The next day, Nephi returned to his father’s hut.  He entered through the opening as usual and found everything inside clean and put away, as usual.  All the pots and cooking equipment were clean and in their usual locations.  The pervading silence was the only unusual thing.  The silence screamed loneliness.

The silence made everything else, although normal and usual, feel different.  It was so quiet.  There was hardly any wind that day, perhaps only an occasional light breeze, yet Nephi noticed the rustling of leaves outside.  He had never heard the stillness like that inside the hut before. 

          Nephi picked up the new letters written in his father’s hand and which had been placed in the middle of the table.  He saw that the one on top was for him.  Another was for his younger brother, Timothy.  Others were for extended family members.

          Alone, and in the calm and quiet of the moment, he opened his personal letter and began to read.  A few minutes later, with tear-filled eyes, he left his father’s hut and shuttered the opening with thatched palm fronds.

END OF PART 1

15. Prayer

CHAPTER 15

PRAYER

         

          Nephi did not rest in the next two days after returning from the sacred record vault with his son.  The time passed quickly.  He used every moment to complete his final preparations before leaving on his ambitious mission to the land of Jerusalem.

          This mission would be the most difficult of his entire life.  In all likelihood, it would be his last.

He prayed without ceasing; one prayer after another.

He remained on his knees at the conclusion of a personal prayer.  He wanted a confirmation that the decisions he had made were right.  He had made important decisions without a full knowledge of what would happen.  He was about to take a very big step into the unknown.  Would this mission be successful?  No second thoughts about leaving his sons Nephi and Timothy?  Would they be all right without him?  What if they never see each other again?

He prayed with all his heart for the Lord to increase his faith.

Well, had not he and Lehi been successful on their previous mission to the Lamanites?  Indeed they had!  They had been blessed with miraculous success.  Some eight thousand souls of the Lamanites had been converted.  And he had not known beforehand how successful that mission would eventually become.

Why would this new mission be any different?

Would this new mission be as difficult as that one?  Certainly!  Maybe even more difficult.  Since the Lord had helped him overcome trials before, surely He would help him when hard times come again.  Would he have to face hardships and potentially dangerous circumstances?  Perhaps be thrown into prison?  He had already been encircled with fire and protected from those who tried to kill him!  The prison walls had shaken exceedingly and he had escaped without harm!  He had conversed with his protecting angels!

Since these things were true before, could they not be true again?

Of course!  And perhaps more if it were according to the will of God.  If it were God’s will, he could remove a mountain.  He would do whatever the Lord wanted.  He would never ask anything for himself that was contrary to God’s will.

The skies had been clear and cloudless the past two nights.  That allowed Nephi to spend hours contemplating the stars and their motions in the heavens.  He was already knowledgeable about the appearance of the stars.  Their path through the heavens consistently marked the passing of the time and predicted the coming of the seasons.  He was just as good at following the position of the stars as any of the so-called wise men who were the Elders of Zarahemla.  Perhaps even better!

Nephi reasoned he would be able to navigate through unknown lands to reach the far distant land of Jerusalem with the help of the stars.  But would the stars in the foreign land be the same?

Nephi looked around his hut trying to see if anything else needed to be done before he left.  Everything seemed to be in order within the small, one-room dwelling.  He glanced at his few, simple personal possessions without much attachment.  He could leave those things behind.

His son, Nephi, was to arrive soon.  He would show his son the most valuable things he was leaving behind.  They were all prominently placed on the only table in the room, neatly organized.  Several new personal letters to family members had been written.  There was a letter of testimony for everyone, copies of blessings, and a record of mission experiences.

Other records of historical events were left next to the personal letters.  One was a record about the growth of the church after thousands of Lamanites were converted.  Another record included statements about the growing corruption in government, murders at the judgment-seat, and statements saying thatTyreantum was innocent and that Nephi, the chief judge, was giving up the position of chief judge in order to preach the word of God.

Satisfied that his home was prepared the way he wanted, Nephi waited for his son to arrive.  What questions would his son have for him today?  Was there anything else he was forgetting to leave for him?  Would this really be their last time together?  How could he say good-bye?

He prayed that he would be inspired to bless his son with words that would best express his love for him.

14. The Plan

CHAPTER 14

THE PLAN

“Yes!  That’s it.  I am as a matter of fact.  I’m going!  I’m so glad you asked because I didn’t want to surprise you too much by what I need to tell you now.”

The older Nephi was noticeably excited.  He nervously bounced on his seat.  He acted as if there was some big secret he had to share, and if he wouldn’t be able to share it, he would burst.  Now it was the son’s turn to notice the animated look on the father’s face, as if the father were the one in the sacred record vault for the very first time.

“I’m glad that you think I’m still young enough, Neffy.  That’s nice.  I wish I were your age for this mission.  All I can do is trust that the Lord will be able to make up the difference for my age now, and for the strength and the energy that I presently lack.”

“This mission?  What are you telling me?  Are you just saying that you are going on another mission?  So what?  You’ve already been on several missions.  Why show me all these records now?”

“This mission is different,” declared Nephi’s father.

“What’s so special about this mission compared to all the others?  Who are you going to teach this time?”

“Well, that’s not exactly an easy question for me to answer.  Maybe, eventually, I’ll teach Heli'·ves and many others like him who have fallen into disbelief and lost their faith in Christ.”

“But Heli'·ves lives right here in Zarahemla!  That means you won’t have to go anywhere.  You’ll be able to stay right here at home this time.”

“No!  Just the opposite!  I’m actually going to a far distant land.  I will be gone for a very long time before I would hope to return---if ever I do find a way back.”

“You’d better come back!  How will going away to a far distant land help Heli'·ves?  That doesn’t make any sense at all.”

“Yes, it does!  I might return from that far distant land with the proof that Heli'·ves seems to be wanting.”

“I doubt that returning with anything would be sufficient proof for Heli'·ves anymore.  He says that only by seeing Christ can one really know that the traditions are true.  And only a fool would want to believe in myths which cannot be verified because only theoretical evidence would exist in a place that is impossible to see.”

“Then I am a fool and a believer in myths!” asserted father Nephi without hesitation.  He slammed his fist down on the table with a loud crack.  “I cannot make Heli'·ves believe, that is true.  He has his agency.  But if he would still choose to not believe after I return with my personal testimony, then woe, woe, woe unto him.  He would then be held accountable for my witness and my testimony of the truth of it.”

Both the father and the son had raised their voices before they realized they were unintentionally arguing with each other.  They stopped a moment to clear the air and calm their voices before going on.

“So, father, what is this far distant land where you will be gone for a very long time?  Are you going back to the land of Nephi in the south again?  Or, is it that you are going back in the other direction to the land northward again?”

“Well, yes, I am going back!  But not to anyplace I have ever been before.”  He smiled at his son with a mischievous twinkle in his eye.

“Come on, father.  Don’t play riddles with me!  You know I have no clue what you are talking about.”

“I’m sorry, Neffy.  Let me explain.  The plan is to go back to the land of Nephi.  Not the land of Nephi inhabited by the Lamanites, but the land of Nephi from where our people come.  I’ve been studying a map I want to show you.  This map will help me explain what I am talking about.”

Nephi dragged the plates of Lehi across the table so that his son could get a closer look at the open book, and especially a highly detailed figure, or illustration, or work of art that had meticulously been inscribed on the top plate.

“These are the plates of our first father Lehi, Neffy.  I would like to study this record with you from the beginning.  But for now, this figure is the main thing I want to show you.  It’s amazing!  At first, I didn’t know what it was.  I didn’t know what to make of it.  Then, I realized what little writing there is on the figure are names of places.  It’s a map!  The most detailed I’ve been able to find in all his record.”

The excitement in Nephi’s voice increased as he pointed to the map and described its features to his son.  Something about that particular map in the plates of Lehi animated him.  He began to explain the significance of the map for his son.  The explanation sounded like it had been rehearsed many, many times before.

“Some plates on this table, specifically these plates of Lehi, and the plates of Nephi with an account of the people of Zarahemla who are the descendants of Mulek, and the twenty and four plates found by the people of Limhi, all have something in common.  Do you realize what?

“Oh, father.  Here you go again with another riddle.  I don’t know.”

“Just play along this time.  It will help me explain the importance of the map.”

“All right, sure.  They’re the oldest here.”

“No!”

“They’re the most sacred?”

“No, again!”

“They testify of Christ!”

“No!  … I mean yes.  Of course they do.  You’re correct about that.  But that isn’t what I was getting at.”  The elder Nephi seemed as excited as the boy discovering hidden treasure.

“Here’s the answer to what they share in common.  All these plates describe a journey from the land of our forefathers to this promised land.  They all made it!  Don’t you see the connection?  Different people at different times, but they all made it!  Our first fathers Lehi and Nephi made it!  Mulek made it!  The people of Jared made it!  Isn’t that something?

“After studying these plates of Lehi, and especially finding this map made by our first father Lehi, I know what mission the Lord is calling me to this time!”

“I am not following you, father.  How does an ancient map made by our first father Lehi many years ago tell you what mission the Lord is calling you to today?”

“Because this map convinces me that it is possible!

“You see, Neffy, our first father Lehi was quite the traveler and a successful merchant.  Before leaving the land of Jerusalem for the last time with his family, his record contains a history of other travels and experiences he had as a merchant.  There are details in his record that I have been studying.  In addition to his prophecies, our first father Lehi wrote about his travels along what he called a trade route to the east.

“Our first father Lehi tells about the lands through which he traveled.  From the study I have done in his record, I have been able to get clues about the places he has been, the distances he would have traveled, the time it would take, and the geographies of the places relative to the land of Jerusalem.

“Just look at the detail in this map!  Here is the land of Jerusalem!  See it?  And over here is the land of Bountiful.  This is information I’ve been hoping to find all my life!  At last I know that our first father Lehi’s final journey can be reversed.  And I am going to do it!”

“Oh, father!  Why would you want to reverse the journey of our first father Lehi?  Isn’t this still our promised land?  I wanted to avoid confessing this to you.  But, I was tempted this morning to repeat some of the history of our first fathers too!  When Arumor was fallen to the ground before me, I suddenly remembered that in the history for our people, our first father Nephi cut off the head of Laban.  And there I was with Arumor helpless before, only it was as if he were Laban all over again!

“Arumor’s sword was there too.  I don’t think anybody else was watching.  I could have done it.  I prayed until the voice of the Lord spoke to me that it was not right.  Are you sure this isn’t just a similar temptation?  Are you also being tempted to repeat history?”

“Yes!  Reverse history actually.  And this is the opposite of a sinful temptation.  This mission has been confirmed by the Spirit of the Lord.  I am not exactly sure why He wants me to go, but like you, I have prayed until the voice of the Lord has spoken to me that it is right.  The Lord has commanded me to go.  Therefore, I must obey.  I must find my way back to Jerusalem.”  

“But…but.  This makes no sense!  You would just leave us here alone!?  What if I don’t want you to go?!”

          “I understand what you’re feeling, son, I really do.”  Nephi expressed as much love and understanding as he possibly could.  “In fact, I would be upset if you didn’t want me to stay.  But I must go.  I feel that the Lord has a special purpose and reason in mind for me to go, even if I don’t now fully understand it myself.”

          “We’ll be separated forever!  You can’t really know that such a long journey is even possible!  And besides, our first fathers Lehi and Nephi had their whole family to help them.  Even Laman and Lemuel helped occasionally when they weren’t rebelling!  You cannot possibly be able to do something this ambitious on your own.  Where would you get a ship?  Or do you plan on building your own ship too!?”

          “Neffy, Neffy.  I know you have many questions for me right now.  But I am not changing my mind.  Or rather, the Lord does not change His mind.  Don’t worry.  You’ll see.  It’s all going to work out.  I’ll help you to understand.  And besides, like our first father Lehi, I will not be entirely on my own.”

Nephi’s father realized that his voice had again risen higher than he intended it to be.  So he lowered his voice to more of a whisper and asserted, “Because God will be with me.”

          “Oh, I know that God will be with you.  God is always with you, father.  Still, without additional…”

          “And, your Uncle Lehi is also going with me!”

          “What!?”

          “Yes!  Your Uncle Lehi and I have actually talked about this for a long time.  We’ve even sort of joked about it together.  You know, since it was our first fathers Lehi and Nephi who came to this land 600 years ago.  And so how appropriate, it’s us again, Lehi and Nephi, who will make the return.  The circle will be complete and we have been given the right names to retrace their footsteps.”

          “But Uncle Lehi is still in the land northward because he did not return to Zarahemla with you.  When did you tell him about this new mission?”

          “We have exchanged letters.  And besides, this is not really a recent decision.  This is a life-long ambition.  Neffy, from the time your Uncle Lehi and I were born, we were told to remember our first parents who came from the land of Jerusalem.  Our entire lives have been spent thinking about them, learning about them, trying to be like them!  Don’t you think I feel some intimate connection with them!?  I feel a burning inside me to get even closer to them.  I want to know more about where they came from, see where they traveled, do what they did, and everything about them.  I believe that part of my purpose on earth is to return to where they came from!”

          “So, … so you dream of another land and connecting to our ancestors.  But what about us?  What about me?  Don’t you also connect to me, to your posterity?”

          “Yes, yes.  Of course I do.  That is what makes this so terribly hard.  If it weren’t for you and the rest of the family, this would be much, much easier.  There are probably plenty of good reasons to stay, and my love for you and the family is foremost on the list.  But your mother is dead now, and you are now a strong young adult.  You can do fine without me.  You are called to care for these records and you must provide leadership for the church during my absence.”

          “I … I wonder if you might wait and think about this some more.  When were you thinking you might be going on this mission, father?”

          “Well, I have actually considered that question with a great amount of prayer, along with extensive study and thought.  It’s probably been the biggest thing on my mind for some time.  In fact, I’m somewhat worried that I’ve delayed going before now.

          “You see, according to the prophecies, now is the time of Christ’s birth in the land of Jerusalem, the land of our forefathers.  I must go now if I expect to have any chance of being there in order to see Him for myself and worship Him while in the flesh.

“Then I could eventually return as a personal witness to Heli'·ves and the rest of the unbelievers that the prophecies by all the holy prophets are indeed true.

“This is now the time the prophets have told us Christ would come.  And the place he is to come is in the land of Jerusalem.  Both the time and the place are set for when and where He is to come into the world.  These things are fixed.  The time is now, and the place is Jerusalem, in the land of our forefathers!”

          “Father, if you really are going, do you really think there is any hope that you could return again like you said?  It has never been done before.  Who knows if that is even possible?  Do you think that I will ever see you again?”

          “Just because it hasn’t been done before is no reason to think that it can’t be done.  Don’t forget to put your trust in the Lord, or forget to believe in miracles.  I am a believer in miracles.  I am also a believer in the Lord.

“By the way, Neffy, remember I told you this morning at the judgment-seat that I have instructed Ammaron to give you my ring and other properties when the time comes?  That is because I do expect to see you again.  I’d say a wait of approximately ten years would be the meaning of ‘when the time comes.’  You see, I’m basing my estimate of ten years on the accounts in these records.

“Here’s how I calculate it.  Our first father Lehi left Jerusalem with his family.  It took them a number of years before reaching the land they called Bountiful.  However, our first father Lehi could have reached Bountiful much more quickly than that if he had been traveling by himself.  It took much longer for the whole family to travel together.

“As you already know, our first father Lehi sent his sons back to Jerusalem a couple of times.  First, they went back for these plates of brass.  Then, they went back to bring the family of Ishmael.  It may have been some time before they married the daughters of Ishmael.  Jacob and Joseph were born.  I suppose others were then having babies.  Travel is always harder and slower with children.  All this would have taken considerable time.  And, in addition, it must have taken our first father Nephi considerable time to build a ship.

“My point is, despite all this, it appears that our first father Lehi and his family arrived in the promised land about ten or eleven years after departing from the land of Jerusalem.  If they can do all that in ten or eleven years, your Uncle Lehi and I can get there and back in the same amount of time or less.

“But if not, at least the record to prove your inheritance was completed at the judgment-seat this morning.  If I am not back in ten years, Neffy, you have the responsibility as oldest son to manage the inheritance.  And if I’m back before that, well, then you’ll just have to wait a little longer before you receive your inheritance.”

          “Oh, I see.  Very clever.  But what about a ship?  That could still take some time to prepare.”

          “And we already have a ship!”

          “You do!?  Where?  What kind?  What makes you think you and uncle Lehi could sail it?  Even if you could sail it, how will you know which direction to go?”

          “All good questions, son, good questions.  They must be answered, ---- but let’s do it later.  We should return back to Zarahemla now.  The night has come and gone already.  The sun is rising in the east.  We need to return home and rest.  We do have more to talk about, but later.  Come on, let’s go.  You’ll get your answers, I promise.”

Nephi’s father carefully pushed the plates of Lehi back to the same place they had been before.  He left the plates open where the map of Lehi was clearly seen.

Nephi stood up, and held the arm of his son to help him stand.  They supported each other with arms around their waists while they steadily walked out from the sacred record vault.  The doorway in the rocks closed itself behind them when they reached the mountainside.

“Get the Liahona,” Nephi’s father instructed.

Nephi retrieved the ball from off the ground where he realized they had left it after the rocks had opened up.  He carefully replaced it in his bag and tied it closed.  He put the bag in the fold of his robe.  Then he made sure the bag was securely tied to the rope around his waist.

The sky in the east was aglow in shades of pink with the light of the rising sun.  Young Nephi was astounded to realize that daybreak had already arrived.  The interview with his father must have occupied the whole of that night.  It had been as if it were a night without darkness.  The light and colors of the sunrise reminded him of the splendid sunset the previous evening.

Since the way back home was mostly downhill, the physical effort for the return hike was normally easy for Nephi.  Not today.  Today he felt weak.  Suddenly, he felt very tired.  The weight of things on his mind felt as if he was carrying the mountain itself down the canyon.

Nephi’s father stopped twice to ask if anything was wrong.  Each time, Nephi said no, that he was fine.  So they continued on.

Nephi’s father also had things on his mind.  Now that he had finally shared his life-long mission plan with his son, he felt relief.  But he had mixed emotions of both happiness and sadness.  He was glad that the time for his departure had come and that he knew his son would be able to take over for him.  Yet, he mourned in silence because he wondered if he would ever see his son and other beloved family members again.  It might require a miracle.   

13. Scripture

CHAPTER 13

SCRIPTURE

Completely awestruck, Nephi followed his father through the opening into the mountain.  They walked into a large, circular and spacious room containing several piles of metal plates. 

This was the sacred record vault!

Nephi was too amazed by everything around him to wonder why the light in the room was so bright.  It was as light as mid-day.  The sun had set, so the light must have been from another source.  Nephi had to convince himself that this room was a real place, just like the Liahona was a real object.  He pinched himself on the cheek, simply to make sure he wasn’t dreaming.

The prominent piece of furniture in the middle of the room was a large, circular table.  Plates of brass, or gold, or copper, or other metals were stacked on top of the table.  More plates were located underneath the table and all around the room.  The pile of plates in some places was as much as knee high, and all together, the plates in this room were probably more than many wagon loads.  There were plates piled upon plates, book upon book.  The plates on the table alone would require more than ten men to carry.  Additional plates were piled on benches surrounding the table.  Nephi saw that some large plates on the table were left open, as if somebody had recently left and intended to come back.

A sword hung conspicuously on the wall behind the great table.

“Why?  Why didn’t you tell me about this place before?” Nephi whispered to his father in reverential wonderment.  “I’ve been up here many times before with you, but I never imagined that a place such as this actually existed!  This is better than a secretly hidden vault containing all the gold and silver of the kings of Zarahemla!

Nephi’s father did not answer the rhetorical question.  He knew to remain silent in order to allow his son time to comprehend the magnitude of the unexpected sight before him.  The younger Nephi was too stunned to expect an answer from his father anyway.  He stared wide-eyed and open-mouthed at the sight of so many records all in one place.  The plates were stacked up almost endlessly; row upon row, and stack upon stack.

The sword hanging on the wall grabbed Nephi’s attention and he walked around the table to take a closer look.  The sword was similar to the sword of Arumor, but even more splendid!  The hilt was of pure gold, and the workmanship was exceedingly fine.  The blade was of the most precious steel.

“Wow!  Look at this!  This sword is impressive!  What sword is this, father?  And what is it doing here?”

“That is the sword of Laban,” explained Nephi’s father.

“Look, father!  Something is written on the wall above the sword.  It says:

“Behold, I am God; give heed to my word, which is quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword, to the dividing asunder of both joints and marrow; therefore give heed unto my word.”

          Nephi finished reading and excitedly bent over to examine the stack of plates at his feet.  He picked up the plates on the top of the stack and briefly studied them.  Then he put those plates back down to inspect some others.

The older Nephi watched as his son eagerly discovered one new marvelous treasure after another.  There he was himself.  He recalled the exhilaration he felt when his father, Helaman, had introduced him to this holiest of places for the very first time.  In a certain way, that day wasn’t so long ago.  Now his son was taking his place and doing exactly what he had done. 

“Well, I think I’m finally starting to understand why, even as a boy, hikes to the Eagles’ Nest with you always gave me a special feeling.  Although unseen by me at the time, these sacred records were here in the mountain just the same, weren’t they?  I’ve always believed they were real though, even though I never saw them before now.”

“The difference between seeing and not seeing is sometimes not as great as we think it is, Neffy.  Or the difference between hearing and not hearing.  Some people can see, but actually they see not, neither do they understand.  Other people may hear, but they hear not when their ears are dull to the word of the Lord.  But blessed are your eyes to now see, and your ears to now hear.

“Many desire to see these things that you see now.  But they have not seen them, nor can they see them until it is to be given them to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. 

          “You asked me why I hadn’t told you about this place before.  Would you be better prepared for this day if I had?  My father and holy angels gave me a strict commandment to tell no one about this place until I was instructed otherwise.

          “I am commanding you likewise.  Tell no one about this place until receiving instructions by the Lord that it is right.

          “The Lord’s plans and purposes are sometimes kept hidden from us for a reason.  We must learn to act according to His will and His time, not ours.  The Lord tests us for a time to see when we are ready for the increased light, understanding, and knowledge that He is waiting to give us.”

         

          Nephi nodded in acknowledgment of his father’s commandment.  “I understand what you mean about doing things according to the Lord’s time.  But I still don’t entirely understand all things.  So why now?  Why me?  What changed in order for me to see this now?  I don’t remember getting any test from the Lord to see if I deserved being here.  How did I qualify to really be here in the first place?  Did I pass a test?”

“In a way, …yes.”

“What test?”

“Well, a test of obedience and sacrifice as a start.  What did you tell me earlier today right after I mentioned something about these sacred records?”

“I said I would go and do what the Lord commands.”

“That’s right!  And so you will, Neffy.  And the Lord knows your inner heart and your willingness to sacrifice everything you have in order to serve Him.”

“And what makes you believe that?”

“Well, for one thing, the ball would not have provided direction to enter this sacred chamber unless that was true.  We may not always know how or why the Lord prepares a way to accomplish the things He commands us, but we can trust Him completely that His purposes will not fail.

“Like you, I do not entirely understand all things either.  Even our first father Nephi did not understand all things!  But did that stop him?  No!  He went ahead and made two sets of plates when he was commanded to do so.”

“Wait a minute.  Our first father Nephi made a second set of plates?  When did he do that?”

“That’s something you’ll learn as you study these records.  I found where our first father Nephi, after leaving the land of our forefathers in Jerusalem, was commanded by the Lord to make two sets of records.  He made the second set of records without really knowing the reason why.  We are familiar with the first set of records because they contain our history.  This is the history that has been passed down to us from generation to generation.  But he also made smaller plates on which he wrote primarily about the ministry and the prophecies, things pertaining to Christ.

“On the smaller plates, he wrote; ‘Wherefore, the Lord hath commanded me to make these plates for a wise purpose in Him, which purpose I know not.  But the Lord knoweth all things from the beginning; wherefore, he prepareth a way to accomplish all his works among the children of men; for behold, He hath all power unto the fulfilling of all His words.’

“Oh, Neffy!  There is so much more here than could ever be abridged on the largest stela.  Actually, only the smallest portion of the complete records is remembered.  We have maybe less than the hundredth part.  Some of these records have been entirely neglected!  In searching among these records, I have found some that are very pleasing to me.  There are prophecies from our early fathers that concern us.  Some of their prophecies have already been fulfilled.  Other prophecies go beyond our day and must also surely come to pass.  This includes the many prophecies about the coming of Christ.  Those prophecies are especially meaningful to me.  The records in this place teach us so much about Christ that I hardly know where to begin!”

“Maybe you need to begin by telling me what records are actually in here.”

For the next several hours, Nephi showed his son a few of the many records in the sacred vault.  Because the quantity of records was so great, many days would have been required to review them all.

Nephi started with the plates on which he himself had written.  Then he showed the plates made by grandfather Helaman.  The records grew increasingly older as they went further into the past, a generation at a time.  Nephi could hardly wait to show his son specific plates he had previously selected to leave on the table.  Those records included the plates of first fathers Lehi and Nephi.

Young Nephi was enthralled with everything he saw.  He saw that Helaman had written on his plates many of the sermons and words spoken by Alma and Amulek which they preached in Ammonihah.  He wanted to study those more completely when he had time.  He saw that a rather thick set of plates was a collection of accounts written by Ammon, Aaron, Omner, and Himni about their mission among the Lamanites.  An even larger set of plates was a fascinating compilation prepared by Captain Moroni.  Moroni’s record included several detailed maps of battle sites and many of his letters giving instructions to his commanding officers.  Other plates in Moroni’s book described strategies for defeating the Lamanites and his ideas for freeing the prisoners captured from his armies.

Nephi saw that all the books and the records which his father showed him were desirable, and could be of great worth in keeping the commandments of God.

“Oh, father.  How wonderful if only people would live according to the words in these books!  The record of Zeniff is here.  People would learn that only when they repent and are righteous, God will deliver them.  The record of Alma is here.  People could read all the words spoken by Abinadi which Alma wrote down after fleeing and concealing himself from king Noah.  The sermons given by king Benjamin are here.  People should know how he explained that we must put off the natural man and become saints through the atonement of Christ the Lord.  And there is so much more!”

“That’s true, son.  Indeed, there is so much more.  A very lengthy book of Enos is here, for example.  Also here are several plates written by Jacob, the father of Enos and the brother of our first father Nephi.  Jacob saw the Lord.  He wrote concerning the history of the Jews.  His sermons teach us how the atonement of The Holy One of Israel saves us from death, hell, the devil, and eternal torment.

“I wish we had more time to look at some of these other records.  But we don’t.  For now, I must show you a few specific things in these plates on the table.  Sit down with me, Neffy, I have some things to explain to you.”

Nephi and his father sat together on the bench by the table.  Several sets of plates were placed on the table including the plates of brass, the twenty and four plates found by the people of Limhi, the small and the large plates of first father Nephi, and the plates of first father Lehi which were already open about mid-way through the record.

Nephi’s father reached for the large plates of first father Nephi and opened them where a strip of leather had been left to mark the spot.  “My son, here are a few words that Alma gave to his son, Helaman, your great grandfather.  I will read a portion of them to you.  My father once read these same words to me, and now, they apply directly to you.  You must consider yourself as if you were Helaman.”

“All right,” promised Nephi.  “What did Alma say to Helaman?”

Nephi’s father read from the plates:  “And now, my son Nephi (of course in the record it reads my son Helaman), I command you that ye take the records which have been entrusted with me; And I also command you that ye keep a record of this people, according as I have done, upon the plates of Nephi, and keep all these things sacred which I have kept, even as I have kept them; for it is for a wise purpose that they are kept. …

“Behold, it has been prophesied by our fathers, that they should be kept and handed down from one generation to another, and be kept and preserved by the hand of the Lord until they should go forth unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, that they shall know of the mysteries contained thereon. …

“O remember, remember, my son Nephi (again I am putting your name in the place of Helaman’s), how strict are the commandments of God.  And He said: If ye will keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land---but if ye keep not His commandments ye shall be cut off from His presence.

“And now remember, my son, that God has entrusted you with these things, which are sacred, which He has kept sacred, and also which He will keep and preserve for a wise purpose in Him, that He may show forth His power unto future generations.

“And now behold, I tell you by the spirit of prophecy, that if ye transgress the commandments of God, behold, these things which are sacred shall be taken away from you by the power of God, and ye shall be delivered up unto Satan, that he may sift you as chaff before the wind.

“But if ye keep the commandments of God, and do with these things which are sacred according to that which the Lord doth command you, (for you must appeal unto the Lord for all things whatsoever ye must do with them) behold, no power of earth or hell can take them from you, for God is powerful to the fulfilling of all his words. …

“And now, my son, see that ye take care of these sacred things, yea, see that ye look to God and live.  Go unto this people and declare the word, and be sober.  My son, farewell.”

“I will, father.  I will be, and do, as Helaman,” whispered Nephi as if in reverent prayer.

“May God bless you always, my son.”  Nephi’s father slowly and carefully replaced the strip of leather to mark the place where he had been reading and closed the plates.

“Father, may I ask you a question?”

“Of course, Neffy, what is it?”

“I have a question for you -- not about the plates, at least not anything that I can think about right now.  But there’s something about the way you read those very last words of Alma to Helaman.  It’s got me wondering.”

“Wondering what?”

“Well, everything today seems to be happening so fast.  Why is that so?  Why are you entrusting me with all this right now?  It feels like so much all at once.  This is overwhelming!  I mean, first there was everything that happened at the judgment-seat with you earlier this morning.  Then, I see the sacred compass on the ground by your hut.  And finally, well, this place and all these sacred records are more than I ever expected.

“I’m thinking, that maybe sometime in the future, maybe sometime when you finally get older -- then would be the appropriate time to share with me these sacred things.   Perhaps then would be a better time to consider inheritance and passing on responsibility for these sacred items.  Not now.  I mean, look at you!  You led me all the way up the canyon today.  You’re not old!  You’ll be around for many more years to come.  Unless…”

“Unless what?”

“Unless … .  Are you going somewhere?”