Nephi and the Pioneers
And it came to pass that the Lord did warn me, that I, Nephi, should depart from them and flee into the wilderness, and all those who would go with me.
Wherefore, it came to pass that I, Nephi, did take my family, and also Zoram and his family, and Sam, mine elder brother and his family, and Jacob and Joseph, my younger brethren, and also my sisters, and all those who would go with me. And all those who would go with me were those who believed in the warnings and the revelations of God; wherefore, they did hearken unto my words.
And we did take our tents and whatsoever things were possible for us, and did journey in the wilderness for the space of many days. And after we had journeyed for the space of many days we did pitch our tents.
-2 Nephi 5.
Parts of the Book of Mormon were meant for our day, meaning right now. Parts were meant for the 1800s. In particular, there are multiple exoduses described in the Book of Mormon. Lehi’s family, Nephi’s group, and later the exodus to Zarahemla. Even Lehi’s Dream begins with an exodus.
All lovingly preserved for long centuries to prepare the Saints for their trek to Salt Lake.
The pioneers were one of the great works of God and his people, long prophesied and prepared for, and are rightly treated as such.
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John Mansfield
February 16, 2024
This sounds right. The Mormon pioneer experience was a not-even-once-in-a-century foundational undertaking creating a people to publish the gospel to the world. Honor, praise, and veneration.
In this year’s reading this parallel struck me, but not as strongly as presented here. What did come out strongly to me is that Nephi cared about the tents. He felt it was important to remind the reader repeatedly that things happened while his father dwelt in a tent. Then with the separation from Laman and Lemuel, the tents are highlighted again.
It also was felt deeply by Nephi that his brothers sought to take away his life.
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February 17, 2024
The Saints have not gone through their final exodus.
John Mansfield
February 19, 2024
I wondered if the migrating saints of the 19th Century explicitly compared their situation to the Book of Mormon, and then I remembered at least one who had: Lucy Mack Smith. From Chapter XXXIX of her history, “The different branches of the church remove
to Kirtland,” wherein she tells of leading a body of several dozen saints that had boarded a boat on the Erie Canal that would take them to Buffalo.
“I then called the brethren and sisters together, and reminded them that we were traveling by the commandment of the Lord, as much as Father Lehi was, when he left Jerusalem; and, if faithful, we had the same reason to expect the blessings of God. I then desired them to be solemn, and to lift their hearts to God continually in prayer, that we might be prospered. We then seated ourselves and sang a hymn. The captain was so delighted with the music, that he called to the mate, saying, ‘Do, for God’s sake come here, and steer the boat; for I must hear that singing.’ He afterwards expressed his pleasure and surprise at seeing such an appearance of devotion among us, stating that his wife had refused to accompany him, on account of her prejudice against us, which he very much regretted.”
The Book of Mormon had started doing its work right out of the gate.