1st Nephi, Chapter 6

So, you finished your reading early today, what, 6 verses? You'd think this chapter could've just been combined with another.

But it's not.

These 6 verses were important enough to earn their own chapter. Here, Nephi gives reason as to why he is hammering out these revelations on these plates of brass. Certainly not an easy task, he is telling us that it's worth his effort:

V 4: "For the fullness of mine intent is that I may persuade men to come unto the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and be saved."

In the last of the verses, he commands future writers of these brass plates not to mud up the water with anything that would stray from the "fullness of his intent".

So that tells us that every single word in this record counts. Future writers respected Nephi's commandment and passed the scriptures on to others if they didn't feel their writings would profit their posterity. Others, like Nephi's Nephew (who took charge of the plates), went through an amazing repentance process, qualifying himself to be an author in this sacred record.

Okay, side note (A.D.D. fully unbridled): Isn't it cool how so many stories of the Book of Mormon were about very intimate repentance and conversion experiences? So uplifting that that was considered note worthy to so many of the Prophet authors. There's hope for anyone who picks up this book.

1st Nephi, Chapter 5

The boys of Lehi and Sariah return to camp, the goods in hand. Not only is Lehi's faith confirmed in the return of his sons, but lo and behold-- The Plates!
What did they do next:
1. Gave thanks; you know Lehi...
2. Searched the Plates from the Beginning (isn't that what we are doing now? :) )

I love that at this point, Lehi doesn't go into the spirtual depths of eternal doctrines he's learned.
Nephi records:
V. 14: ..."He knew he was a descendant of Joseph, who was sold into Egypt, and who was preserved by the hand of the Lord, that he might preserve his father, Jacob and all his household from perishing with famine.
V. 15: "And they were also led out of captivity and out of the land of Egypt, by that same god who had preserved them."
V. 16: "And thus, my father, Lehi, did discover the genealogy of his fathers...."

Lehi had learned of his royal lineage. He had learned of people with his same blood, going through the same (or similar) situation, supported and preserved by the same God.

What a comfort it is to read about our relatives in our genealogical path. And how cool that it isn't just a "mormon hobby", but is the #2 most popular search on the Internet today. People want to find a place among the nobles. They want to know that they "have it in them" to be great.

And while some of us aren't blood related to the Native Americans spoken of in this ancient record we are reading... we are spiritually connected to them, and can call upon the same God when we need to come out conqueror.