Lessons for Our Day From the Book of Mormon Another Testament of Jesus Christ - 2024
Lesson No. Three

Nephi was a Universal Man; A Man for All Seasons

Leonardo da Vinci (1452 – 1519) lived in Italy and is considered a genius and “a universal man”. Leonardo was a painter, sculptor, philosopher, designer, writer, mathematician, optician, architect, engineer, physicist, geologist, geographer and botanist. He was one of the first to do research on the human body; he designed many useful and futuristic devices; he played and composed music.

Sir Thomas More (1478 – 1535) lived in England and was described as “a man for all seasons” – Sir Thomas was a lawyer, judge, social philosopher, author, and statesman. He served king Heny VIII as Chancellor of England. He was executed because he would not compromise his principles.

Nephi, son of Lehi (approx. 615 BC – 540 BC) was born in Judea and died in the Americas. Nephi is a more compete “universal man” than was Leonardo, and he was a more accomplished “man for all seasons” than Sir Thomas More. President Russell M. Nelson described Nephi “as a multifaceted genius. Endowed with great physical stature, he was a prophet, teacher, ruler, colonizer, builder, craftsman, scholar, writer, poet, military leader, and father of nations….He became a special witness and trusted prophet of the Lord” (Heroes from the Book of Mormon, Bookcraft, 1995, pp. 1-15). Specifically:

1. Nephi was among the greatest of all prophets – He was the head of the Nephite dispensation which continued for over 1,000 years. He continues to have a great impact on the children of Lehi and of all mankind in our day. He set the pattern for all the Nephite prophets in the Book of Mormon, which is “the book that will save the world” (Bruce R. McConkie, (Conference Report, October 1983).

2. Nephi was a great teacher, scholar, writer, and poet – The Books of 1 Nephi and 2 Nephi in the Book of Mormon are marvelous literary works, and they are primarily devoted to spiritual matters and particularly to the ministry, teachings and testimony of the Jesus Christ. The Psalm of Nephi (2 Nephi 4:15-35) is wonderful evidence of Nephi’s gifts and humility.

3. Nephi was inspired and a beloved ruler, colonizer, military leader, and father of nations – “The people having loved Nephi exceedingly, he having been a great protector for them, having wielded the sword of Laban in their defense, and having labored in all his days for their welfare. Wherefore, the people were desirous to retain in remembrance his name. And whoso should reign in his stead were called by the people, second Nephi, third Nephi, and so forth according to the reigns of the kings; and thus they were called by the people…” (Jacob 1:10-11).

4. Nephi was a master builder and a craftsman – He made “tools to construct the ship” and he constructed it after the manner the Lord had shown him (1 Nephi 17:7-11). This unique and divinely designed ship would take Lehi’s large extended family thousands of miles across the ocean to the New World. Nephi took “the sword of Laban, and after the manner of it did make many swords.” He taught his “people to build buildings, and to work in all manner of wood, and of iron, and of copper, and of brass, and of steel, and of gold, and of silver, and of precious ores, which were in great abundance.” He built a temple “after the manner of the temple of Solomon…and the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine.” He caused his people “to be industrious, and to labor with their hands” (2 Nephi 5:14-17).

Nephi’s willingness to forgive his brothers was like his ancient father, Joseph in Egypt, and was Christlike – Laman and Lemuel sought many times to kill Nephi, and each time he forgave them. For example, on one occasion Laman and Lemuel “did bind me with cords, for they sought to take away my life, that they might leave me in the wilderness to be devoured by wild beasts.”

But after the bands were loosened by the power of God Laman and Lemuel asked for forgiveness, and Nephi “did frankly forgive them all that that they had done” (1Nephi 7:16, 21).

Nephi is an inspiration to all who study his life and teachings – When I presided over the Kentucky Louisville Mission (1990 – 1993) we used Nephi as an example of what a missionary could do/be if they had faith in Jesus Christ. When the Book of Mormon begins Nephi was about the age of our missionaries. Our mission theme was the “iron rod” Nephi saw in vision. We encouraged missionaries to study the life and teachings of Nephi, and if they truly desired they would be given to know their truthfulness by the power of the Holy Ghost” which as Nephi wrote, “is the gift of God unto all those who diligently seek him…” (1Nephi 10:17).

The Iron Rod (Hymn 274) was our mission hymn, and gives us courage and strength – The lyrics of this very motivating hymn begins, “To Nephi, seer of olden time, a vision came from God.” The last two verses are rarely sung, but our missionaries always sung them with gusto. These verses, like Nephi’s life, reminded them of the importance of staying the course on their missions, and they remind all of us of the importance of enduring faithfully to the end of our lives.

- “And hand o’er hand, the rod along,

Through each succeeding day,

With earnest prayer and hopeful song,

We’ll still pursue our way.

“Afar we see the golden rest

To which the rod will guide,

Where, with the angels bright and blest,

Forever we’ll abide.”

May we all be more like Nephi who, first and foremost, was a totally committed disciple of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Released on January 21st. 2024.