1 Ne 8:21-25

From Feast upon the Word (http://feastupontheword.org). Copyright, Feast upon the Word.

The Book of Mormon > First Nephi > Chapter 8

Previous (1 Ne 8:16-20)

Next (1 Ne 8:26-30)

Contents 1 Questions 1.1 Verse 21 1.2 Verse 22 1.3 Verse 23 1.4 Verse 24 1.5 Verse 25 2 Lexical notes 3 Exegesis 3.1 Verse 24 4 Related links 4.1 Verses 23-24

Questions

Verse 21

• Given how the word "concourses" is used in the Book of Mormon, should we assume that Lehi was trying to say there was something angelic about the people in this first group?

Verse 22

• How is it possible that all of these people started out on the same side of the river as the path?

Verse 23

• Why did everyone on the path at that moment "lose their way"?

Verse 24

• What were the odds that, in total darkness, these people could find the direction they needed to take in order to find the iron rod?

Verse 25

• Was this verse influenced by Neh 6:16?

Lexical notes

• Click the edit link above and to the right to add lexical notes

Exegesis

Verse 24

Lehi sees that they are "clinging" to the rod of iron. In such a dark setting you might expect people to be holding hands. But nothing is said of people clinging together. No person is leading another by the hand. Maybe the significance of this is that the rod of iron, or as we learn later, the word of God, must be grasped directly, individually, of our own choice. We must know the truth for ourselves. Others can "beckon" us, as Lehi did his family, but we each need to grasp the word of God individually if we are to press forward.

Related links

Verses 23-24

• Jeffrey R. Holland, "Prophets in the Land Again," Ensign, Nov 2006, pp. 104–7. Elder Holland said: "[W]hen those mists of darkness enveloped the travelers in Lehi's vision of the tree of life, it enveloped all of the participants—the righteous as well as the unrighteous, the young along with the elderly, the new convert and seasoned member alike. In that allegory all face opposition and travail, and only the rod of iron—the declared word of God—can bring them safely through. We all need that rod. We all need that word. No one is safe without it..."

• "Clinging" vs. "holding fast." See this post by NathanG at the Feast blog regarding the "clinging to" wording here in contrast to the "holding fast" wording in verse 30.

---

Previous (1 Ne 8:16-20)

Next (1 Ne 8:26-30)