Bring-to-Life Book of Mormon Stories

STORY 10: NEPHI BREAKS HIS BOW

Reference: 1 Nephi 16:15-32

Background: Lehi’s family, now united with the family of Ishmael by marriage, was traveling in the wilderness as directed by the curious ball (compass) provided by the Lord. (See Story 9.) They obtained food along the way by slaying beasts with their bows and arrows, stones, and slings.

Story Outline: As Nephi goes forth to slay food, he breaks his bow of fine steel. Since his brothers’ bows had lost their springs, the party is left without means of obtaining food. Laman and Lemuel are angry with their brother, Nephi. They, the sons of Ishmael, and even Lehi murmur because of their sufferings and afflictions in the wilderness.

Nephi exhorts his brethren not to complain against the Lord. He makes a bow out of wood and asks his father where he should go to obtain food. Lehi, humbled by Nephi’s words, inquires of the Lord. The Lord chastens Lehi and tells him to look upon the ball where he sees a warning that causes him to tremble with fear.

Nephi follows the directions given upon the compass and is successful at slaying food at the top of the mountain. When he returns with the food, his family is joyful, humble, and grateful.

Gospel Principles:

1. Attitude. Laman and Lemuel were angry at Nephi when he broke his bow. Others in the group joined in their murmuring and complaining about their afflictions. On the other hand, Nephi kept a proper attitude. Rather than complaining, he set to work to solve the problem by making a bow of wood. (Compare v. 18-20 with v. 21-23.)

2. Diligence. Nephi did not give up even under exceedingly difficult conditions. He exhorted the others not to complain against God. (See v. 21-23.)

3. Discouragement. When things go wrong, it is easy to become discouraged even unto complaining against the Lord.

4. Faith. Nephi retained his faith through this trial. He knew that his father could find out from the Lord where to go to obtain food. (See v. 23.)

5. Honoring parents. Even though Lehi was amongst the murmurers, Nephi still followed the patriarchal order by asking his father where to go to find food. (See v. 23.)

6. Humility. Lehi’s family humbled themselves and acknowledged the Lord’s hand because of Nephi’s admonishing and also when they saw that food was provided for them. (See v. 24 and 32.)

7. Preaching. Nephi spoke much unto his brethren in the energy of his soul. They humbled themselves because of his words so that Lehi inquired of the Lord where to obtain food. (See v. 22 and 24.)

8. Work. Working is a great way to overcome discouragement. It not only lifts the spirit, but it can solve the problem. (See v. 19-23.)

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STORY 74: THE BROTHER OF JARED SEES THE FINGER OF THE LORD

Reference: Ether 2:16-25; 3:1-28

Background: Jared and his brother with their friends and families were led by the Lord from the tower of Babel through the wilderness to the seashore, where they dwelt for four years. (See Story 73.)

Story Outline: The Lord tells the brother of Jared to go to work and build some barges. As made according to the Lord’s directions, the barges are watertight on top, sides, and bottom.

The brother of Jared asks the Lord how the people are to breathe and see while inside the vessels. For breathing, the brother of Jared is told to make stopped holes, one in the top and one in the bottom, to receive air into the ships. However, concerning light for seeing, he is not given the answer. Instead, the Lord turns the problem back to him.

The brother of Jared goes into mount Shelem and moltens out of rock sixteen small stones, two for each of the eight barges. On the top of the mount, he sets out the stones and prays with great faith that the Lord will touch them with His finger and cause them to give off light for the journey.

The Lord does touch the stones with His finger. The veil is lifted and the brother of Jared sees the finger of the Lord. He falls down in fear. The Lord asks him if he saw more than His finger. The brother of Jared answers, “Nay; Lord, show thyself unto me.”

Because of the great faith of the brother of Jared, the Lord, Jesus Christ, shows Himself and explains His pre-mortal spirit body. The Lord teaches him and ministers unto him, showing him all the inhabitants of the earth from the beginning to the end of time. The brother of Jared is told to write and seal up the things that he has seen, along with a means for interpretation, to come forth at a later time.

Gospel Principles:

1. Faith. Read the brother of Jared’s faithful prayer. The Lord, Himself, declared the brother of Jared to be a prime example of one who has faith. (See Ether 3:2-5, 9 and 26.)

2. Gifts of the Spirit. The things revealed to the brother of Jared were to be protected and revealed later by the gift of the interpretation of tongues. (See Ether 3:22-24.)

3. Godhead. What a clear lesson of the nature of God and man is taught to the brother of Jared by the Savior! Jesus is the God of the Old Testament. Man is created in God’s image. Jesus’ spiritual body looked like His physical body that He would take upon Himself when He came to dwell upon the earth. (See Ether 3:6-10 and 15-16.)

4. Jesus Christ.

• The brother of Jared sought for light: irradiant stones for lamps. He found the source of eternal light, the Redeemer.
• If we receive Christ, we will become His sons and daughters. (See Ether 3:14.)

5. Knowledge. The faith of the brother of Jared turned into perfect knowledge as he saw the Lord. (See Ether 3:19-20.)

6. Obedience. The brother of Jared did all that the Lord commanded him to do. (See Ether 2:16-18 and 21-22.)

7. Prayer. Pray like everything depends upon the Lord and work like everything depends on you. (See Ether 2:22; 3:1-2.)

8. Preparation. How can we prepare for the mountain waves of life that will crash upon us? (See Ether 2:24-25.)

9. Self-reliance. We are not given all the answers. We must first study out problems on our own, and then approach God. (See Ether 2:23; D&C 9:7-9.)

10. Teaching. The Lord had previously instructed Jared’s party and had let them practice making barges. (See Story 73 and Ether 2:16.)

11. Work. “Go to work and build,” was the instruction from the Lord. (See Ether 2:16.) The same command could well be applied to us in our callings to serve others.