Never Give Up

Teachings of the Book of Mormon
Part One
Hugh Nibley
Transcripts of lectures presented to an honors Book of Mormon class at Brigham Young University 1998-1990

Semester 1 Lecture 8
I Nephi
Escape from Doom

Finally, Professor Nibley gets into the Book of Mormon per se. But then in his first paragraph he points out another major historical figure who was a cotemporary of Lehi – Zarathustra. He even tries to tie the great musical theme “Thus Spake Zaratustra” by Richard Straus that Kubick uses to open up the movie “2001” with the Book of Mormon. I could not follow his reasoning. I just mention this in case any reader of these summaries has any idea how Nibley has this Zarathustra and The Book of Mormon related.

When I get beyond Nibley’s first paragraph he begins to make sense to me. He mentions the obvious fact that Nephi has good parents and that Nephi has a good education. He then comes upon one of the repetitive themes – REPENT OR BE DESTROYED. A computer printout has the word DESTRUCTION 456 times in the book and the word REPENT 360 times – usually mentioned in the same breath.

Nibley points out that many ancient civilizations are still around, but Lehi’s civilization on this continent is gone. THIS IS THE RULE FOR THE PROMISED LAND. KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OR BE DESTROYED. Nibley believes that is a warning to us.

Nibley then spouts on for several pages about how the foundation of the world order in Lehi’s time AND OUR TIME “is absolute nihilism. That is no hope for anything future—no hope for any hereafter, that this is all there is. That is what nihilism is.” I cannot speak about Lehi’s time, but are we really living in a time of nihilistic thinking? To a certain extent, yes. There is much talk in our major publications about mutual nuclear destruction. Scientific articles discuss how the universe began 14 billion years ago and will end some billion years in the future; there is never any discussion in these scientific articles that theologians disagree and feel that we will exist for eternity.

So what does The Book of Mormon have to say about such a pessimistic view? Look at the last verse of I Nephi: “if ye shall be obedient to the commandments, and endure to the end, ye shall be saved at the last day.” The Book also warns us: “Cursed is he who puts his trust in the arm of the flesh.” So Nibley quotes D&C Section 1 and shows that the first 18 verses are warnings and then the last 18 verses are good news. Good news if we follow the prophets.

Meanwhile back to the I Nephi. In 1873 a German scholar, Martin Haug, discovered the phenomenon of the Ascension story. The Ascension story in ancient times follows the same format – a righteous man is suffering and is worried about his people. He prays and is taken up to Heaven where he sees God on his throne. He is given an explanation of things which he writes down. He goes forth and preaches. The people do not believe him and put him to death.

The first chapter of I Nephi is a perfect example of an Ascension story except that Lehi escapes death by fleeing Jerusalem. Note that Lehi says, “Great and marvelous are thy works…” What is he talking about? He has just learned that Jerusalem is going to be destroyed! But more importantly, he has learned about the Eternal Plan of Salvation, which overshadows everything else.

Nibley than discusses that Lehi was a wealthy man; therefore when he and his family left their house and their gold and silver and their precious things that they would surely be traveling with beasts of burden; animals to carry their provisions and Lehi’s tent.

“My father dwelt in a tent.” They travel for eight years in one of the worst deserts in the world so they must have these animals.

We leave it there for now.

I'm sure they had animals.

I always kind of get OSCard's Homecoming description mixed up with 1 Nephi a bit now... At least in terms of packing and modes of travel and so forth.

What does Nibley say the fate of the righteous very-much-a-minority is when the rest of the population will not repent? Were they the ones killed off first in Mormon/Moroni's day?

I find these things discouraging. I have a hard time getting past the warnings to the good news. In our little family we are doing our best to study the scriptures and repent, but it feels so little compared to society as a whole. I prefer stories where the Lord will spare the city if there is just 10 or so righteous people in it. I am hoping, against hope, that the prayers of the righteous in our country will be sufficient for the Lord to spare us.

3 Nephi 21 -- the fearful things that are going to happen are going to cut down the fearful things that are currently in our midst. I've always believed in safety. I wonder if everything that is not belief and obedience to Christ is ultimately nihilism.