1 Nephi 3: Dreams, Schemes, Establishing Character Themes

This is the second time that Lehi has had a vision, or, I suppose in this case a dream. However, Lehi basically equates dreams and visions in 1 Nephi 8:2 where he says, "Behold, I have dreamed a dream; or, in other words, I have seen a vision" (Which should also tip you off that this isn't the last dream that Lehi is going to have). So what is a prophetic dream like? How do they know that it's prophetic and not just a regular dream?

Frankly, I have no idea. I don't find that God talks to me through dreams and visions.

So, what's the point of talking about dreams? Well, it shows us that God can relate with us in different ways. In the last chapter, Nephi prays to God to soften his heart, and he feels his heart being softened. He also says the Lord "visited him." Does that mean that Nephi saw God at that time? Possibly. But it could mean that
Nephi was feeling of the presence of the Holy Ghost. God has never appeared to me, but I know for a fact that he has "visited" me (or, at least, I wouldn't be loathe to describe it that way); I've felt him touch my life and change my heart, give me direction, and so on.

Also, it is interesting to note that while the dreams described by prophets in the Book of Mormon are decidedly metaphorical/allegorical, they also come with very distinct meanings and instructions attached. God commands in his dream that Lehi's sons be sent back to retrieve the plates. My dreams are usually nebulous, with no particular obvious meaning; Lehi's dreams are apparently much more clear.

This dream leads to one of the most well-known stories in Book-of-Mormon-dom. Nephi and his brothers going back to get the plates. We don't finish the story in this chapter, but it has some fun story-telling things going for it, like the fact that it takes three tries to get the plates.

This chapter is all about trying to do what the Lord says. First, Laman goes and tries to talk it out with Laban. Then they try to, basically, bribe Laban. Then Laman and Lemuel want to give up. Of course, they wanted to give up from the very beginning, so not much has changed in their attitude. Come to think of it, not much has changed in Nephi's attitude either. In fact, the brothers are starting to really polarize themselves here.

It is starting in this chapter that Laman and Lemuel will come to be characterized by one word: murmuring. They are the kings of murmuring. They even murmur after an angel of the Lord appears to them and tells them the Lord will deliver Laban into their hands. I mean, an angel of the Lord! I can see doubting what your father said, but you're really going to argue with a being of light? Anyway, that's Laman and Lemuel for you.

On the other hand you have Nephi, whose attitude can be summed up either by his most famous quote ever, vs. 7--I will go and do . . . or, my personal favorite in this chapter in vs. 15, "As the Lord liveth, and as we live, we will not go down unto our father in the wilderness until we have accomplished the thing which the Lord commanded us." This statement is a blueprint we can follow when responding to the Lord.

"As the Lord liveth"--Because We know that the Lord lives and we know the nature of the Lord--he prepares a way for us, we trust him, we know he loves us,

"and as we live"--and because we exist and always have the agency to choose

we won't give up until we accomplish what the Lord commands.

This is the definition of commitment. If we trust the Lord, we can be this committed instead of murmuring. Murmuring cuts down on our power. When we doubt God, we have to start trusting in our own strength to get us through, and our own strength is not enough.

As a final note, this chapter ends with one of the finest dramatic breaks in the Book of Mormon. "How is it possible that the Lord will deliver Laban into our hands? Behold he can command fifty, yea, he can slay fifty; then why not us?"

To Be Continued . . .