Jan 512 min read

“I Will Go and Do”

Updated: Jan 7

1 Nephi 1–5

Videos, Podcasts, & Weekly Lesson Material

Media	Lesson Extension	Additional Materials
Scripture Central	1Nephi 1-7	Study Guide
Follow Him	1Nephi 1-5 Part 1, Part 2	Transcripts
Line Upon Line	1Nephi 1-5
Teaching with Power	1Nephi 1-5	Teaching Bundle for Book of Mormon, available on Etsy.
Don't Miss This	1Nephi 1-5
Book of Mormon Matters with John W Welch and Lynne Hilton Wilson	1Nephi 1-7	John W. Welch Notes
Unshaken	1Nephi 1-5 (Part 1, Part 2)
The Interpreter Foundation	1Nephi 1-5	Commentary by John Claybaugh Come, Follow Me Resource Index - 2020
Teaching Helps with John Hilton	1Nephi 1-5 The Book of Mormon, A Master Class
Scripture Gems	1Nephi 1-5
Ponderfun	1Nephi 1-5 (not yet posted)
Talking Scripture	1Nephi 1-5	Show Notes
Book of Mormon Minute, Brant A. Gardner Vol. 1	1Nephi 1 1 Nephi 2 1 Nephi 3 1 Nephi 4 1 Nephi 5
Saving Talents: Devotionals & FHE for Children	1Nephi 1-5 Come Follow Me 1/8/2024
Hurricane Utah Adult Religion Class, Book of Mormon	Week 3 Lehi's Flight from Jerusalem; The Brass Plates 1 Nephi 1-7,9 Video: The Book of Mormon Lesson 3: 1 Nephi 1-7,9	Lesson 3: Notes, Slides

Resources and Insights for this Week's Lesson

The Book of Mormon and the Old Testament: A Cultural and Religious Dialogue

The Book of Mormon, often perceived as distinct, is closely connected to the Old Testament. This connection is enriched by understanding Jewish history, culture, language, and traditions. Seeing the Book of Mormon through a Jewish lens enhances its depth, offering a rewarding experience that deepens appreciation and affirms its authenticity as an ancient Jewish record. This perspective uncovers a profound bond between these sacred texts, underscoring the Book of Mormon's role as a complementary extension to the ancient Jewish scriptures and traditions.

In addition to the links and insights referenced from other creators on this site, additional commentary will sometimes be added that highlights some of these connections. Some of the topics we will explore in these lesson include investigations such as:

The Importance of Literacy: In Jewish tradition, the importance of literacy cannot be understated. I once had a voice teacher who was a Jewish Cantor. He emphasized to me the significance of literacy in Jewish culture, saying, "You will never, ever, ever meet an illiterate Jew. It does not happen." This statement resonated with me when I reread 1 Nephi 1, where Nephi describes being born to goodly parents who taught him the learning of his fathers. Nephi was educated in literacy, learning how to read and write were skills that enabled him to understand the mysteries of God. His parents ensured he received this education, playing an immensely important role for all of us. Literacy has always been a crucial part of Jewish heritage; even poor families in the ancient world made great efforts to ensure their children knew how to read and write. Children would typically start to learn their letters as soon as they could speak. This was essential for their survival as Jews, aiding them in preserving their identities through the preservation and transmission of religious texts, laws, and histories. The Book of Mormon underscores this importance by showcasing Nephi's efforts to obtain the brass plates, which contained sacred writings and traditions crucial for maintaining their cultural practices and faith.
Cultural and Linguistic Connections: The Book of Mormon often employs Hebrew linguistic styles and idioms, enriching its narratives and teachings. Translating specific words back into Hebrew can provide deeper insights, revealing nuanced meanings and cultural connections inherent within the text. This usage of Hebrew language elements emphasizes the Book of Mormon's roots in ancient Jewish tradition. For example: In our discussion of Zoram below, we will examine how the Hebrew word sharath "servant," can offer valuable insight and perspective, that can help one to better understand the context of the events one reads about in the Book of Mormon. ("They Came from Jerusalem: Some Old World Perspectives on the Book of Mormon," "Hebraisms in the Book of Mormon: A Preliminary Survey," “I Have A Question: Why is the phrase ‘and it came to pass’ so prevalent in the Book of Mormon?”, "The Original Language of the Book of Mormon: Upstate New York Dialect, King James English, or Hebrew?", "Words and Phrases,")
Religious Traditions and Festival Practices: The Book of Mormon mirrors Old Testament festival practices and adherence to the Torah, which the writers frequently referred to in connection with the "Law of Moses." This Law was faithfully observed by the Nephites, and when one better understands Jewish religious traditions, one can better appreciate the meaning and significance of several events that are taught in the Book of Mormon. Don Bradley writes about some of these perspectives that pertain specifically to the accounts we are studying this week, "A Passover Setting for Lehi’s Exodus."
Literary Styles: The Book of Mormon's use of literary styles like chiasmus, parallels the Old Testament, and enhances its connection to ancient Jewish scriptures. In the first few chapters of Nephi, several chiastic structures are already evident. Chapter 5 highlights an intriguing aspect that offers some insights into the purpose and usage of various poetic devices. We read about Lehi's excitement when he has an opportunity to read his ancestry from the brass plates. This was something he had never done previously. This small detail underscores the significant reality regarding the rarity of written materials in the ancient world. It also highlights the importance of oral tradition in scripture learning and preservation. Anciently, scriptures were often taught through songs and poetry, primarily in temple and synagogue services, as well as during the religious festivals. This is a practice akin to how children learn gospel principles through songs and rhymes today. These oral tradition facilitated the widespread knowledge of scriptures in communities that had limited access to written texts.
Prophetic Writings and Messianic Expectations: Similar to the Old Testament, the Book of Mormon features prophetic writings, particularly about the Messiah, aligning with Jewish learning and messianic expectations. This echoes some of our previous discussions, particularly our Throne Theophany investigation that we explored in our Revelation lessons. The principles of symbolic language and recurring patterns in these texts, particularly in Lehi's vision and Nephi's dream, shed light on many of the 'Mysteries' Nephi describes, and he does a marvelous job explaining some of these more complicated concepts. Nephi even comments on how his soul delights in making these prophecies plain unto his people, so that they, and we, would be able to learn from them. Learning to understand these symbolic aspects allows for deeper comprehension of the narratives, as various pieces come together to form a more detailed and coherent picture of these profound and frequently enigmatic religious concepts.

This Week's Deeper Dives Into the Book of Mormon from a Jewish Cultural Lense:

Zoram: A Levite in the Wilderness?

The Book of Mormon introduces Zoram as a key yet enigmatic figure in the narrative of Nephi and his family's exodus from Jerusalem. Recent scholarly exploration presents the compelling possibility that Zoram may have been a Levite. This essay delves into the evidence for this hypothesis, and examines some of the religious and cultural implications, exploring how Zoram’s potential Levitical status might have influenced his decision to accompany Nephi and his family into the wilderness in addition to shaping the nascent Nephite society.

Zoram's Levitical Lineage: Cultural and Religious Significance

The role of Zoram, initially depicted as Laban's servant, is sometimes glossed over, and the significance of his role is frequently missed. However, Zoram emerges as a potentially pivotal figure when viewed through a lens that suggests he may have been more than just a slave, but a Levite servant. In Hebrew, the words for slave (eved) and servant (sharath) have multiple meanings and contexts. The term "sharath," is used to refer to a high-ranking servant in religious contexts. In ancient Israel, Levites held distinct roles, and they were entrusted with the stewardship of the Temple, including performing religious ordinances as per Torah instructions, and caring for the sacred artifacts of the Temple, including the sacred records. If Zoram were a Levite, his role as a caretaker for the brass plates would make sense, as would his familiarity with the distinguished "Elders" of Jerusalem. His sacred duty to protect the plates would explain why he would not let them out of his sight, even if that meant passing them over to his master, Laban. In this context, Zoram's presence among Lehi’s group would have been more than incidental; it would have been providential.

Decision to Join Lehi’s Family

Zoram’s decision to accompany Nephi and Lehi can be recontextualized through this Levitical perspective. A Levite's duty was to protect and preserve sacred items, such as the brass plates which Nephi sought from Laban. Given the imminent threat of Babylonian invasion, which historically led to the looting of sacred artifacts from the Jerusalem Temple, Zoram might have perceived his departure with Nephi as a divine duty to safeguard these sacred records. This might explain why Zoram did not resists very much after his initial realization. He believed Nephi, and believed his best course of action in the current situation was to protect the records. He felt they were safer in Nephi's hands than if they were to remain in Jerusalem.

Jerusalem Under Babylonian Threat

The timing of Nephi’s mission to obtain the plates coincides with a period of intense Babylonian threats to Jerusalem. Prophets and leaders such as Jeremiah, Josiah and others, had issued stark warnings that Jerusalem was in serious danger. Historically, it was around 597 BC that the Babylonians initially raided and looted the Temple, in addition to capturing many predominant members of the community, people such as Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednedo, and others. Then in 586 BC, they raided it again before destroying the Temple. Zoram, as an educated Levite, would have been acutely aware of these threats, as it was His imperative to protect the sacred records.

Understanding these circumstances might help to explain why Zoram did not resist Nephi once Nephi explained to him their reasons and purposes for obtaining the plates. They saved these plates, as these would have certainly been taken and melted down once they had been confiscated by Nebuchadnezzar's armies. Once Zoram realized what they were doing and why, he willingly accompanied the family. He never tried to escape, even though he had ample opportunities to do so. He left his entire life behind because he was persuaded by the testimony of Nephi and his sense of duty.

Nephi and Zoram: Complementary Religious Leaders

The potential combination of Nephi, a descendant of Joseph through Ephraim and a holder of the Melchizedek Priesthood, with Zoram, a Levite and potential bearer of the Aaronic Priesthood, presents a powerful religious synergy. Nephi, as a visionary leader, and Zoram, as a steward of tradition and law, could represent a divine alignment of religious leadership roles within the young and developing Nephite society. This synergy would have significant implications for the religious and cultural development of the Nephites, potentially mirroring the ancient Israelite structure of religious governance and allowing them to fully observe the Mosaic Law.

Conclusion

The exploration of Zoram as a Levite adds a profound dimension to the Book of Mormon narrative. It suggests a deliberate divine hand in the formation of the Nephite society, ensuring the continuity of sacred traditions and priesthood responsibilities even in a new land. This perspective enriches our understanding of the Book of Mormon's portrayal of religious leadership and legacy, symbolizing a bridge between the old and new worlds, between Jerusalem and the promised land.

Outlines & Overviews for this Week's Materials

In this section, we outline the themes of the chapter, drawing connections with biblical narratives and ancient Jewish cultural practices. This approach offers a comprehensive framework that can enrich one's understanding of both the spiritual and historical context of the events and teachings presented.

In addition, a reference for Cultural Context has also been provided to spotlight intriguing topics for study and research. One might choose to utilize the provided materials in the outline to explore these topics in greater detail, as a type of jumping off point for further contemplation, research, and discussion.

Overview

1 Nephi 1: Setting the stage for the Book of Mormon, introducing the prophet Lehi, and the socio-political context of Jerusalem around 600 BC.