So my question is . . .1 Nephi 2: 12-13Lehi says they have to leave Jerusalem or perish. Laman and Lemuel start grumbling. They don't want to go and they don't even believe that Jerusalem could be destroyed in the way their father is prophesying. Nephi even says his older brothers are like the Jews who sought to kill Lehi! Even so, guess who is present when they embark on their journey?
1 Nephi 3:5Lehi tells Laman and Lemuel that they're going to have to go back to Jerusalem to get the brass plates. They, of course, start to murmur and complain about what a hard thing that is to have to do. Yet, in verse 9, they're taking off to Jerusalem with Nephi and Sam.
1 Nephi 4:4So after they've failed twice to get the plates, Nephi begs Laman and Lemuel to stick around and try one more time. He even reminds them of the Lord's omnipotence by teaching them from the Bible. They become "wroth" and they "continue to murmur." BUT . . . "nevertheless they did follow me up until we came without the walls of Jerusalem."
. . . what on earth would induce two such people to continue following along when they so obviously disbelieve and loath their father and brother and even the Lord?! Wouldn't it be more likely that they would just refuse to leave Jerusalem with the rest of the family? Or refuse to go back to Jerusalem to get the plates? Or refuse to try, yet again, to get the plates from Laban?
Anyone? Anyone?
Is it that Satan is determined to have his hecklers following after the faithful servant of the Lord, attempting to drag him down with their griping any chance they get?
I just don't get it.
Where's my comment? I saw it today and I saw Daniel's, but now I don't see them. Weird.
ReplyDeleteOh, I know what I did wrong. I didn't hit 'post comment' the second time. Okay, I'll try that.
ReplyDeleteLaman and Lemuel were not always murmurers. Sometimes they repented. They finally helped Nephi when he made another bow. They also repented and helped him build the ship. They at times asked for forgiveness. They knew the truth but gradually lost the light, but not totally until they reached the promised land. Once there, there was no going back.
ReplyDeleteThey were young men, marriageable, when they left Jerusalem. They were city boys. It would have been difficult to return just the two of them. They needed the safety of the colony. When Nephi went back with them to get the plates, for sure servants went with them.
After eight years in the wilderness it would have been hard to find their way back. Plus they were not unfamiliar with the workings of the Liahona. They knew it worked based on righteousness and obedience. They couldn't have had any help from the Liahona. They knew that.
Why didn’t Laman and Lemuel just get up one morning and make the hike back to Jerusalem? Why was their incessant effort to kill Lehi and Nephi and then go back to Jerusalem? Isaiah 53:9 may give us insight by describing why Jesus was killed. Isaiah wrote, “because he had done no violence [or evil], neither was any deceit in his mouth.” Few things can stir up anger in the unrighteous as much as a good example. Laman and Lemuel knew that their father and brother were telling the truth, and they were angry because of it. They were jealous and envious and proud. Some of the Jewish leaders had the same problem with Jesus. Nobody welcomed them into the city by throwing down palm fronds in their path. Nobody was being healed by them. There were no great crowds flocking around them to hang on their every word. Something had to be done about this righteous person who always spoke the truth. They had him crucified. The two oldest sons of Lehi had in their hearts to likewise slay their father and brother.
ReplyDeleteHa! Did you notice that when they were told to go back and get wives there was not a peep of murmuring? Yeah, I probably wouldn't complain about that either. Girls....very powerful motivators. But then they started complaining again once they had the girls. Ah! Whiners.
ReplyDeleteI guess when the Lord granted Satan power to bruise our heels, Satan took that and ran (or slithered) with it. He is the thorn in the side of every righteous person - always there to irritate, annoy, degrade, and deceive. He is relentless, as are those who fall victim to his lies and flattery.
ReplyDeleteYeah, Daniel! I totally noticed that. But I wonder if Nephi wasn't just sick of carving out, in gold, all of his brothers' complaints and murmurings and just decided for once to let it slide for his arm's sake. :D