Comments on: Nephi as King and Nephi as Brother – Reading Nephi – 15:21-36 part I

By: Clark

Clark — Thu, 28 Sep 2017 15:38:40 +0000

Is Laman coming to Nephi? The chapter presents Nephi coming out of his visionary state and seeing his brothers debating about his father’s dream. My guess is that whether or not they believed Lehi or Nephi, they at least accepted that Nephi knew the style of rhetoric Lehi used. That is we have to distinguish between issues over the form of Nephi’s and Lehi’s vision as presented and the content of the vision. In verse 20 Nephi presents them as “humbled” but it’s not quite clear why he thinks that. I assume just because they finally were listening (from Nephi’s perspective). Nephi clearly sees a strong connection between the Isaiah texts he has with the common Enoch-like vision he and his father have.

Of course Nephi is most likely writing this well after the fact. But I do suspect it’s wrapped up with the “manner of prophesying among the Jews” (2 Ne 25:1) that I suspect Laman and Lemuel also weren’t comfortable with.

By: Carey F.

Carey F. — Tue, 26 Sep 2017 17:30:35 +0000

I agree Nephi’s “brethren” seem a little less dismissive in this chapter, I was curious to who was speaking and so I searched for ‘Laman’ and then ‘Lemuel’ and nothing came up. Nephi never identifies who is actually speaking to him in this chapter. I think this is typical Nephi where he lumps them together.

By: Rob Osborn

Rob Osborn — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 18:45:55 +0000

Ive always viewed it as Laman and Lemual are looking for the loophole to still be saved but yet also still able to live a somewhat sinful life. Its Nephi that thus explains that the wicked take the truth to be hard. Laman and Lemual werent sufficiently humbled at this point to understand and repent. Its only after Nephi further explains and exhorts his brethren with all diligence that they become humbled for a time.