Next chapter in Nephi!
1 Nephi 4:1-
1 And it came to pass that I spake unto my brethren, saying: Let us go up again unto Jerusalem, and let us be afaithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord; for behold he is mightier than all the earth, then why not bmightier than Laban and his fifty, yea, or even than his tens of thousands?(Nephi really has a ton of faith in the Lord. He knows that HE will help them deliver the records to them becuase the Lord commanded them to go to Jerusalem to get them. When the Lord tells us to do something, we NEED to have faith that He will help us get it done. Right now I am reminded of the time, that the Lord told me to resign from my first year teaching position. It wasn't the best school to teach at and I really needed to leave. It was a scary thing to do. I didn't have any jobs lined up for the next school year, and I knew how hard it would be to get a new one! But, I did what the Lord told me to do. I resigned in April and after the school year was over, I started looking for a new job! I tried many things...MANY things...and everything led me to a BRICK wall. But, I kept trying. I put it in the Lord's hands and reminded Him that He was the one who told me to resign. I KNEW He would help me find a new job! I just had to do the foot work! I had a few interviews and they all said NO! M y mom and I drove around one day to the towns that were out in the country and then one day I drove to all of the schools in the Northside school district. I remember wanting to be done, but definitely had the feeling to go to ONE more! So, I did! Well, I ended up getting that job the day before MEET the TEACHER! It was a mad rush to get my room ready, but I did! Adams Hill Elementary was one of the BEST schools I ever taught. I learned so much being at that school and in that District. I KNOW HEavenly Father had a plan for me and led me to that school. They didn't even know they needed a 4th grade teacher until a couple days before my interview. And, my co workers told me later, that there was just something about me that they were drawn to which is why they hired me. THE LORD! It was the LORD!!! So, when the Lord tells us to do something, we need to keep trying until that task has been completed. No matter what it is we need to do! As long as the Lord is guiding us!
2 Therefore let us go up; let us be astrong like unto Moses; for he truly spake unto the waters of the bRed Sea and they divided hither and thither, and our fathers came through, out of captivity, on dry ground, and the armies of Pharaoh did follow and were drowned in the waters of the Red Sea.
3 Now behold ye know that this is true; and ye also know that anaangel hath spoken unto you; wherefore can ye bdoubt? Let us go up; the Lord is able to cdeliver us, even as our fathers, and to destroy Laban, even as the Egyptians.
4 Now when I had spoken these words, they were yet wroth, and did still continue to murmur; nevertheless they did follow me up until we came without the walls of Jerusalem.(I get so mad when I read about Laman and Lemuel!! They continued to MURMUR?! But, then I think about times in my life when I do start to doubt? I do start to wonder if the Lord is really there, if He is really guiding my life...and then I think...ugh I am having a LAmen and Lemual moment...OF COURSE the Lord is there!!!)
5 And it was by night; and I caused that they should hide themselves without the walls. And after they had hid themselves, I, Nephi, crept into the city and went forth towards the house of Laban.
6 And I was aled by the Spirit, not bknowing beforehand the things which I should do.(This scripture reminds me of the time the Lord told me to move to Utah! I did! It was the biggest step into the darkness that I have ever taken. I was just following on FAITH knowing that the Lord had a plan for me! He did! It was some of the best two years, the hardest, but the best. It taught me so much about myself and the Lord! And it defiitely prepared me for marriage and my life ahead! I was meant to go to Utah! Even though I had no idea what I was going to do when I was there!
7 Nevertheless I went forth, and as I came near unto the house of Laban I beheld a man, and he had fallen to the earth before me, for he was adrunken with wine.
9 And I beheld his asword, and I drew it forth from the sheath thereof; and the hilt thereof was of pure gold, and the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine, and I saw that the blade thereof was of the most precious steel.
10 And it came to pass that I was aconstrained by the Spirit that I should kill Laban; but I said in my heart: Never at any time have I shed the blood of man. And I shrunk and would that I might not slay him.
11 And the Spirit said unto me again: Behold the aLord hathbdelivered him into thy hands. Yea, and I also knew that he had sought to take away mine own life; yea, and he would not hearken unto the commandments of the Lord; and he also had ctaken away our property.
12 And it came to pass that the Spirit said unto me again: Slay him, for the Lord hath delivered him into thy hands;
13 Behold the Lord aslayeth the bwicked to bring forth his righteous purposes. It is cbetter that one man should perish than that a nation should dwindle and perish in dunbelief.
14 And now, when I, Nephi, had heard these words, I remembered the words of the Lord which he spake unto me in the wilderness, saying that: aInasmuch as thy seed shall keep mybcommandments, they shall cprosper in the dland of promise.
15 Yea, and I also thought that they could not keep the commandments of the Lord according to the alaw of Moses, save they should have the law.
17 And again, I knew that the Lord had delivered Laban into my hands for this cause—that I might obtain the records according to his commandments.
18 Therefore I did obey the voice of the Spirit, and took Laban by the hair of the head, and I smote off his head with his own asword.(I think this would be so hard to do, but I love that Nephi tells us his thoughts and why he did it.)
19 And after I had smitten off his head with his own sword, I took the garments of Laban and put them upon mine own body; yea, even every whit; and I did gird on his armor about my loins.
20 And after I had done this, I went forth unto the treasury of Laban. And as I went forth towards the treasury of Laban, behold, I saw the aservant of Laban who had the keys of the treasury. And I commanded him in the voice of Laban, that he should go with me into the treasury.
21 And he supposed me to be his master, Laban, for he beheld the garments and also the sword girded about my loins.
22 And he spake unto me concerning the aelders of the Jews, he knowing that his master, Laban, had been out by night among them.
24 And I also spake unto him that I should carry the engravings, which were upon the aplates of brass, to my elder brethren, who were without the walls.
26 And he, supposing that I spake of the abrethren of the bchurch, and that I was truly that Laban whom I had slain, wherefore he did follow me.
27 And he spake unto me many times concerning the elders of the Jews, as I went forth unto my brethren, who were without the walls.
28 And it came to pass that when Laman saw me he was exceedingly frightened, and also Lemuel and Sam. And they fled from before my presence; for they supposed it was Laban, and that he had slain me and had sought to take away their lives also.
29 And it came to pass that I called after them, and they did hear me; wherefore they did cease to flee from my presence.
30 And it came to pass that when the servant of Laban beheld my brethren he began to tremble, and was about to flee from before me and return to the city of Jerusalem.
31 And now I, Nephi, being a man large in stature, and also having received much astrength of the Lord, therefore I did seize upon the servant of Laban, and held him, that he should not flee.
32 And it came to pass that I spake with him, that if he would hearken unto my words, as the Lord liveth, and as I live, even so that if he would hearken unto our words, we would spare his life.
33 And I spake unto him, even with an aoath, that he need not fear; that he should be a bfree man like unto us if he would go down in the wilderness with us.
34 And I also spake unto him, saying: Surely the Lord hathacommanded us to do this thing; and shall we not be diligent in keeping the commandments of the Lord? Therefore, if thou wilt go down into the wilderness to my father thou shalt have place with us.
35 And it came to pass that aZoram did take courage at the words which I spake. Now Zoram was the name of the servant; and he promised that he would go down into the wilderness unto our father. Yea, and he also made an oath unto us that he would tarry with us from that time forth.
36 Now we were desirous that he should tarry with us for this cause, that the Jews might not know concerning our flight into the wilderness, lest they should pursue us and destroy us.
37 And it came to pass that when Zoram had made an aoath unto us, our bfears did cease concerning him.
38 And it came to pass that we took the plates of brass and the servant of Laban, and departed into the wilderness, and journeyed unto the atent of our father.(They were able to accomplish everything the Lord sent them to do!)
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