1 Nephi 12

Nephi writes of his vision -

"...And a great and a terrible gulf divideth them; yea, even the word of the justice of the Eternal God, and the Messiah who is the Lamb of God, of whom the Holy Ghost beareth record, from the beginning of the world until this time, and from this time henceforth and forever."  (1 Nephi 12:18)

The justice of God is forever.  President Kimball wrote -

"After a person has been assigned to his place in the kingdom, either in the telestial, the terrestrial, or the celestial, or to his exaltation, he will never advance from his assigned glory to another glory” (Spencer W. Kimball, The Miracle of Forgiveness, pp. 243–44).

1 Nephi 11

I found one interesting word that explains much of Nephi's vision as he records -

"...behold this thing shall be given unto thee for a sign, that after thou hast beheld the tree which bore the fruit which thy father tasted, thou shalt also behold a man descending out of heaven, and him shall ye witness; and after ye have witnessed him ye shall bear record that it is the Son of God."  (1 Nephi 11:7)

It is the word "it".   I note that in reference to the Savior, Nephi uses the word "him".  So when he is to bear record of the Tree, Nephi uses the reference to the Tree saying "it is the Son of God".

1 Nephi 10

I continue to believe the basis of this blog is -

"For he is the same yesterday, today, and forever; and the way is prepared for all men from the foundation of the world, if it so be that they repent and come unto him.
19 For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost..."  (1 Nephi 10:18–19)

1 Nephi 8

What I find to be one of the more significant statements in Lehi's vision of the Tree of Life is -

"...as I partook of the fruit thereof it filled my soul with exceedingly great joy; wherefore, I began to be desirous that my family should partake of it also; for I knew that it was desirable above all other fruit."  (1 Nephi 8:12)

I have to confess with all the distractions I may experience, it always comes back to my desire that my posterity partake of the "fruit".

1 Nephi 7

Nephi confronted his brothers with -

"How is it that ye have forgotten that ye have seen an angel of the Lord?"  (1 Nephi 7:10)

"Yea, and how is it that ye have forgotten what great things the Lord hath done for us, in delivering us out of the hands of Laban, and also that we should obtain the record?"  (1 Nephi 7:11)

"Yea, and how is it that ye have forgotten that the Lord is able to do all things according to his will, for the children of men, if it so be that they exercise faith in him?..."  (1 Nephi 7:12)

I think this is the reason that many fall away.  The choose to forget.  That is why the prophets are always counseling -

"...O remember, remember..."  (Mosiah 2:41)

1 Nephi 4

There are many who seek for a sign to substantiate their faith.  But we see over and over in the Book of Mormon, those that were given signs did not remain faithful.  So is the case with Laman and Lemuel as we read -

"...behold, an angel of the Lord came and stood before them, and he spake unto them..."  (1 Nephi 3:29)

No sooner than the angel did so that -

"...they were yet wroth, and did still continue to murmur..."  (1 Nephi 4:4)

Obviously, signs do not build faith.

1 Nephi 2

Looking back, Nephi remembers -

"...I, Nephi, being exceedingly young, nevertheless being large in stature, and also having great desires to know of the mysteries of God, wherefore, I did cry unto the Lord; and behold he did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father..."  (1 Nephi 2:16)

What rang true to me was "I did cry unto the Lord; and behold he did visit me, and did soften my heart".  I believe that this simple experience is how many receive a testimony of Jesus Christ.  That is humbly approaching the Lord and finding their hearts softened.

It reminds me of Alma's analogy -

"Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me."  (Alma 32:28)

1 Nephi 1

As Nephi begins his record some 30 years after leaving Jerusalem, he writes -

"...I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance."  (1 Nephi 1:20)

Moroni later concludes the record -

"...I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts."  (Moroni 10:3)

Much of the Book of Mormon is about that...the tender mercies of the Lord.

1 Nephi 1

As Nephi begin his record of the small plates of Nephi, you can sense his positive nature with -

"...having seen many afflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of the Lord in all my days..."  (1 Nephi 1:1)

Now that I am older, I have experienced a few what most people would consider insignificant afflictions (nothing like Nephi), as I look back, I have to confess I have also been highly blessed of the Lord!

Joseph Smith - History

Of his experiences with the Prophet Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery comments -

"...While the world was racked and distracted—while millions were groping as the blind for the wall, and while all men were resting upon uncertainty, as a general mass, our eyes beheld, our ears heard, as in the ‘blaze of day’..."  (Joseph Smith—History, Note, 5)

I feel the same way as the Prophets speak in general conference.  The world is distracted and missing out on the truth concerning the great plan of salvation with all the answers to happiness.

Joseph Smith - History 1

As the Prophet Joseph recalls the visit of Moroni, among other quotes, Moroni -

"...also quoted the second chapter of Joel, from the twenty-eighth verse to the last. He also said that this was not yet fulfilled, but was soon to be."  (Joseph Smith—History 1:41)

As I reviewed Joel, I noticed -

"And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit."  (Joel 2:28–29)

I specifically noted "servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit."  Recently, President Nelson has requested that all saints...servants and handmaids, seek to receive personal revelation.  In my mind, this fulfills this prophesy.

Joseph Smith - History 1

As we watch religious scholars argue over biblical doctrine, we learn the importance of restored priesthood and the Holy Ghost as the Prophet Joseph Smith records -

"...We were filled with the Holy Ghost, and rejoiced in the God of our salvation.
74 Our minds being now enlightened, we began to have the scriptures laid open to our understandings, and the true meaning and intention of their more mysterious passages revealed unto us in a manner which we never could attain to previously, nor ever before had thought of."  (Joseph Smith—History 1:73–74)

I believe the priesthood and Holy Ghost are essential to further light and knowledge.