31. On The Road

CHAPTER 31

ON THE ROAD

          After traveling through Samaria, Lehi thought his brother was happier and more at ease than he had been in a long time.  Nephi was still the same person, but he had no fear of the future.  He seemed to be at peace no matter what happened to them.  Not even the possibility of death, Lehi thought, would discourage his brother now.

When they finally reached Jericho, Nephi, Lehi, and Hantuman said tearful good-byes to their merchant savior.  The merchant explained to them that he wanted to stay in Jericho for several days and trade the spices he had collected.  Nephi was saddened to part company with his good friend.  But he was so close to fulfilling his life-long dream to see Jerusalem that he could not stand a single delay, even one more day.

The merchant completely understood Nephi’s desire to see Jerusalem right away.  And before they went their separate ways, he said that he wanted to give Nephi, Lehi, and Hantuman a gift.  He gave them frankincense and myrrh, along with clothing and money for the land they were in.  The merchant said that he hoped his small contribution would be ample to provide them eventual passage back to their home country.

Nephi did not want to accept such a generous gift.  But when the merchant explained that the gift was also intended for the Holy Child whom they had come so far to worship, Nephi gratefully received his voluntary blessing and promised him that God would reward him tenfold for his kindness.

          Nephi, Lehi, and Hantuman went up from Jericho towards Jerusalem.  They walked along the road to Emmaus in the evening and were only about threescore furlongs from Jerusalem.  They were joined by two other travelers.  The other two men were talking together and had questions which they hoped would be answered in Jerusalem.  Nephi overheard some of their conversation.  They said something about a new star.

          “What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and mention the appearance of a new star?” Nephi asked them.

          “Hello,” one of them said.  “My name is Cleopas.  Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and dost not know the things which indicate that prophecies have been fulfilled about a new star appearing to announce the birth of a Savior?”

          “I am indeed a stranger, and this is my first visit to the land of Jerusalem,” said Nephi.  “So please, tell me about these prophecies.”

          “Well,” the man who had introduced himself as Cleopas was eager to explain.  “Simon and I come from lands south of those claimed by the tribes of Judah and Benjamin.  And although we are descendants of Ishmael rather than Isaac, yet we also have Abraham, who is God’s friend, for our father.  Our oldest writings tell of a Savior whose birth would be accompanied by a new star and other signs in the heavens.  Most of the people in our country disregard the old writings and say they are not true.

“But, when a new star did appear, there were some of us who began to wonder if there couldn’t indeed be some truth to them.  The writings do not make a lot of sense and it is hard to believe everything that is written.

          “As we searched our writings, we found that they contained prophecies about a Savior.  But we cannot comprehend most of what we read.  The writings say that this Savior shall be a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people.  But they also say that the Savior would suffer all things, and die, before entering into His glory.  Therefore, the writings contradict each other because a Savior can’t die and then be able to redeem all mankind.

          “Simon and I finally decided to come to Jerusalem to continue our studies of the ancient writings.  We hope to find answers for the things that are evidently missing in them.”

          Nephi turned to face Cleopas and Simon as he addressed them.  “Oh fools and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have written:  Ought not Christ first to suffer, and then enter into His glory?”  And then beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning the Savior.

Lehi and Hantuman also bore testimony to the truth of what Nephi taught to Cleopas and Simon.

          And they drew nigh unto the village whither Cleopas and Simon intended to stay the night.  But Nephi made as though he would go on further to Jerusalem.  So Cleopas and Simon constrained Nephi, Lehi, and Hantuman, saying, “Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.”

          But Nephi cast his eyes ahead and saw, now revealed on the hill before them in the setting sun, that the wall to the city of Jerusalem was in view.  And beyond the wall, the light of the fading sun made the housetops appear warm and inviting.  At this sight, Nephi burst into tears and sobbed.  Between his sobs, he lamented:

          “Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that rejected my first fathers Nephi and Lehi, that killest the prophets, and stonest them sent unto thee.  How often would I have come to thee, even as a chick is gathered under the wings of the hen?  And so here I am at last.”

          Seeing Nephi weep openly at the sight of Jerusalem, and finding that Lehi and Hantuman were also crying with plentiful tears falling noticeably from their eyes, Simon spoke to Cleopas and said, “Do not our hearts burn within us, while these men talk with us by the way, and while they open to us the scriptures?  Behold, see how they cry over Jerusalem.”

          And they rose up the same hour, and entered into Jerusalem, with Nephi, Lehi, Hantuman, Cleopas, and Simon all gathered together.  They found a place to stay within the city and spent the night rejoicing in the spiritual feelings that came to them when they realized that they were actually in Jerusalem, the destination of their long and seemingly endless lifelong quest.

Here they were, in Jerusalem at last!  This was the actual city!  It was from here that the first fathers Lehi and Nephi had departed those many years ago.

Now they had returned!  A Nephi and a Lehi were again within the city walls of Jerusalem.  They had done it!  What a feeling of joy and excitement! 

This was the place where the prophets, including Isaiah, had lived.  This was where Abraham had come to sacrifice Isaac.  In the entire world, this place was a holy spot, a sacred location.

They knew that in this place, not far from them at the moment, the Son of God was present in the flesh.  This was where He was living.  He would teach here.  This was the place that He was seeing with His own eyes.  And the air that they were breathing was the very same air that would be filling His lungs.

Nephi spent most of that night in silent and humble prayer.  In the morning when he awoke, his pillow was wet with tears.

The next day, Nephi and his traveling companions were eager to visit the temple.  However, they were not prepared for what they would find.