Book of Mormon 2020 - 1 Nephi 16-22

Please refer to the post I wrote on this lesson back in 2016: https://gospeldoctrine2016.blogspot.com/2016/01/book-of-mormon-5-hearken-to-truth-and.html

There is a remarkable statement in John W. Welch (ed, 1992), Reexploring the Book of Mormon, that contains evidence that authenticates the divine nature of the Book of Mormon. After the incident where Nephi’s bow was broken and his family started to murmur because they did not know how they would obtain food, Nephi sought the help of the Lord. In 1 Nephi 16:23 we read, :”I, Nephi, did make out of wood a bow, and out of a straight stick, an arrow.” We know he had to make a new bow, but surely he still had his arrows? Why not just make a new bow?

Davis S. Fox, in Welch’s book, discussed facts that would have been unknown at the time Joseph

Smith was working on his translation of the Book of Mormon. He described the forces at work when an arrow is drawn from a bow. The weight and stiffness of the materials for bow and arrow would need to match or the bow would not fire straight. The stiff arrows used in a steel bow would destroy a wooden bow. “The arrows from the steel bow when shot from the wooden bow would be like shooting telephone poles.” David Fox concluded: “Nephi’s statement that he made an arrow out of a straight stick is an additional subtle but significant example of internal consistency within the Book of Mormon. Anyone unfamiliar with the field of archery would have almost certainly omitted such a statement.”

Nephi's broken steel bow and a new wooden bow and arrow

Another piece of evidence indicating the truth of the Book of Mormon comes from recent research into the land Nephi described as Bountiful (see 1 Nephi 17:5). In 1950, Professor Hugh Nibley suggested that Bountiful could be in the Dhofar region of southern Oman. However, it wasn’t until 1976, that the Astons, members who were both explorers and researchers, published a set of 12 criteria, from the Book of Mormon, that would be needed to identify Bountiful’s location. They concluded that Wadi Sayq or River Valley met all the criteria and was likely the site of Bountiful. The short video below, from Book of Mormon Central, describes this amazing find. 

Some other great evidence of the Book of Mormon from old world geography is explained in another YouTube video (see below). Wadi Sayq is mentioned in this video, a lot of other archaeological evidence, and information on the broken bow. It is truly mind-blowing!

In Nephi 20 and Nephi 21 we are presented with the words of Isaiah (Isaiah 48-49). For a full explanation of these chapters, have a read of the great book by John Bytheway called Isaiah for Airheads. In Nephi 20, we read about the Lord being all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-loving. God is described as “mighty to save”. If we are obedient and follow His counsel and His laws, he will deliver us from bondage. “Through his power, we can enjoy the promise of peace like a river, and constant righteousness like the waves of the sea” (p. 44).

I spent a lot of time on Nephi 21 and would like to mention some of the wonderful things in this chapter. S. Michael Wilcox defined three keys to understanding this chapter. The first key is found in 1 Nephi 19:23, “…that I might more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord their Redeemer”. The first key is to look for Christ. The second key is found in the same verse, “…for I did liken all scriptures unto us”. We need to look for ourselves in the scriptures. The third key is found in 1 Nephi 22:1, in the questions that are addressed to Nephi by his brethren. “What meaneth these things which ye have read? Behold, are they to be understood according to things which are spiritual, which shall come to pass according to the spirit and not the flesh?” We need to appreciate that there are layers of understanding and that the meanings are both spiritual and temporal, both literal and figurative.

In 1 Nephi 21:1 we are told that we have been called for a purpose and in 21:2 we are told that truth, “a sharp sword” has been placed in our mouths. This lovely image also appears in verse 2. “in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me”. The image of a baby whose mother’s hand is shielding her from the sun, is the image suggested by S. Michael Wilcox. Isn’t that beautiful? Or, a mother’s hand shielding the child from some harsh reality that could hurt the child in some way. The Lord will hide us and protect us.

“in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me”

In verses 5 to 8 we are told that we must accomplish three things: there are three references to the gathering of Israel (bring Jacob again to Him; raise the tribes of Israel; and, restore the preserved of Israel); be a light to the Gentiles; and bring the Lord’s salvation to the earth. Then, in verse 9 we are told, “That thou mayest say to the prisoners: Go forth; to them that sit in darkness: Show yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places.” We need to let our light shine so that others can leave their prisons of ignorance (on earth and in the Spirit Prison), follow the light, and be led away from swamps of degeneration to feed in the high places.

I love verse 13, “Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth…break forth into singing, O mountains” – what a joyful image! The Lord will show those of the House of Israel that they have not been forgotten (verse 14). Then, in verse 16 we read, “I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands”. What can we see in the Lord’s palms? The prints of the nails, a reminder to Him that He cannot forget us, just as we cannot forget Him.

His hands

In verse 18 we read about the people gathering into the Church, and in verse 20, there is need for more room. Today we see the rapid splitting of stakes and missions to grant the members more room. These bring to mind the scenes we see when we watch General Conference. I have been in a Regional Conference and felt the awe of being surrounded by so many Saints. I can imagine what it must be like at General Conference, to be one of 21,000 seated in the Conference Centre. Just knowing that sessions are streamed in 80 languages to 7,400 Church buildings in over 100 countries, and later translated into 94 languages is awesome. We can see the words of Isaiah coming to pass.

General Conference

I testify that the Isaiah chapters are powerful. We can develop our knowledge of the responsibilities of members of the House of Israel, and develop our love and appreciation for the role of the Saviour.