Comments on: Reading Nephi – 2:1-7

By: Clark Goble

Clark Goble — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 16:51:05 +0000

The question of why Lehi left but not Jeremiah is a good one. The text doesn’t really offer any suggestions. Makes one wonder if the stories of the lost 10 tribes bear some resemblance to Nephi/Lehi.

By: James Olsen

James Olsen — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 11:42:11 +0000

nl: reminds me a bit of the difference between Nephi’s and Jacob’s view of the Land of Nephi. Personally, I feel like I’ve experienced both approaches to Utah/Frontier that you describe.

By: nl

nl — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 05:08:08 +0000

I think this may be a key to the difference between Latter-day Saints in and out of traditionally LDS-colonized areas. Utah Mormons consider themselves to be in a Land of Promise, and generally don’t leave, as many with family that went away to BYU and married Utahns experience. Frontier Mormons consider the Land of Promise to be their homes, to which a surprising proportion consider themselves called – I would love to see poll numbers for the number of LDS families outside of the Corridor that report divine inspiration as a primary reason for their place of residence.

Utah Mormons may think of themselves as children of Israel, brought to their suspiciously Israel-like homeland by the power of God. Frontier Mormons, in my experience, think of themselves as compatriots of Lehi, especially as so many of these promised lands are abandoned by the same inspiration that created them. And to these frontier folk there is no stranger land to be guided to than Utah.