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| One of the lines in a passage found in 1 Nephi 8:38 |
It's one of the scriptural verses that I found that made me think about how and why it was included there in the scripture, where it doesn't even make sense to me, or maybe if someone might notice it.
I actually pondered this verse for a long time before I realized that it was necessary in the succeeding chapters.
So, when Lehi told his dreams and vision, he tried every effort to help his eldest sons as he knew something might happen to be wrong in future times. He speaks as a father who was concerned for his sons' souls and wanted to bring them onto the right path. (see 1 Nephi 8 for more)
So, why did speaking? Why would a loving father stop giving instructions or maybe words to inspire them to do good? Or perhaps directions that might help them know what may possibly happen ahead?
For me, as I ponder some of these questions, I think there's a better reason. I came up to understand what Joseph Smith Jr. had to say to the leaders of the saints in their time. He said -
“I teach them correct principles, and they govern themselves.”
So, what was this all about? As I understood Joseph Smith's words, Lehi is simply applying the same principle in his time. Lehi, as I have observed in the succeeding chapters, wanted his son to realize and ponder on the things that he had seen in his vision. He simply wants his sons to understand the importance of revelations and agency in what they had learned.
More of these insights will be updated soon. Thank you for checking out.
