A New Environment

Section: 2 Nephi 1-8

Revisiting the Book of Mormon on a General Level

1. Character: In 1 Nephi 1, Lehi, the father of the main character (Nephi), is grateful for their new home and that they were able to leave a city that was hit by disaster.

2. Dialogue: In 2 Nephi 4, a grandfather interacts with his grandchildren, giving them counsel and blessing them. He “leaves [his] blessing” upon the sons and daughters of his oldest son.

3. Plot: In 2 Nephi 5, the main character (Nephi) and some of his family leave the rest of their family in order to escape a bad situation and be able to live righteously.

Reviewing a Fellow Student’s Blog Post: Taylor N. “Reflections of Summers in Idaho”

1. Taylor did not move from Chicago to Idaho and Chicago was not destroyed like the city of Jerusalem. But he does express pride for his “Idaho heritage” and he seems to have gratitude for his good experiences in his grandparent’s house in Idaho. This is similar to Lehi’s appreciation for his new home. Also,Taylor describes how “raw west atmosphere” of Idaho contrasted sharply with suburban Chicago. This parallels Lehi’s journey from the developed city of Jerusalem to the wilderness of the Americas.

2. Taylor’s grandmother gives a prayer for his family as they depart for Chicago. Lehi is also a grandparent. He prays for and blesses his family before he dies and departs to the next life.

3. Taylor’s family does not visit Idaho to escape wickedness of family or friends in Chicago. But his mother does feel more comfortable in Idaho; she “act[s] differently” and “talk[s] more openly.” Likewise, Taylor experiences greater “freedom” in this environment. Nephi’s family leaves so that they can live in righteousness and without the bad examples and behavior of some of his brother’s family. Without their bad influence, Nephi and the righteous of his family live with more freedom and comfort. Therefore, Taylor’s feeling of freedom in Idaho, parallels the Nephites’ feelings of freedom in a place away from the Lamanites.