Introduction & 1 Nephi Chapter 1

The Introduction to the Book of Mormon is comprised of the Title Page, Introduction, Testimony of Three Witnesses, Testimony of Eight Witnesses, Testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and a Brief Explanation about the Book of Mormon. All of which are wonderful. I will not publicly examine them in this project.

Being an Old Testament Prophet must have been a hard job. I am pretty thankful that I was not assigned the task in the Pre-mortal Life. The Book of Mormon takes place in Jerusalem about 600 B.C. Lehi, a prophet at the time, saw his first recorded vision. Nephi wrote down the visions that he felt were necessary to include in his record, which is the record that we have in our possession.

Old Testament Prophets were stoned, mocked, cast-out of cities, burnt, eaten by whales, and killed in other interesting ways. New Testament Prophets were probably treated even worse! It would be great job to be a prophet in a city where everyone listened to you, but since Enoch took his people up in a chariot of fire, I think prophets have had it pretty rough. Lehi was no exception.

The upside to being a prophet is that you receive awesome visions. The vision in the first chapter of 1 Nephi I believe is the most overlooked vision in the Book of Mormon.

Lehi prayed and saw a "Pillar of Fire". Fire is a key indicator of a visit from the Lord. In Joseph Smith's First vision he saw fire, as did Moses when he saw the Burning Bush. Lehi had a similar experience. "there came a pillar of fire and dwelt upon a rock before him"

He saw the heavens open, and who he thought was God sitting on a throne with concourses of angels singing and praising God. One descended out of the midst brighter than noon-day sun (I've heard that one before too). Twelve others followed him.

They gave Lehi a book which was filled with abominations. It said the Jerusalem would be destroyed. If it were not for what he read in this book, Lehi may not have taken his family out of Jerusalem, and we would not have the Book of Mormon.

Lehi told his family about his vision, and then preached to Jerusalem. The people did not accept that Jerusalem would be destroyed very easily. Lehi was lucky. He was given some time before the people came to destroy him. Lehi would eventually leave in the night with his family.

I left out lots of insight from this chapter including interpretations of symbols and visions. I do not completely know what was going on in this vision, but I believe it was very important to Lehi as an individual, and to his family.