Nephi began his record with a note about his goodly parents. The adjective goodly may mean distinguished, esteemed, or respected—an allusion to both moral and spiritual status. These days we might consider using the term awesome. Nephi gave particular credit to his father, from whom he had received a proper education and learned of the goodness and mysteries of God. Generations of writers following Nephi bore similar testimony of the valuable instruction of their fathers. For example, the first sentence inscribed on the plates by Enos was a eulogy of his father, Jacob, for having planted some seeds of eternal consequence deep in his heart: “I, Enos, knowing my father that he was a just man—for he taught me in his language, and also in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Enos 1:1). The revered King Benjamin caused his three sons to be “taught in all the language of his fathers, that thereby they might become men of understanding; and that they might know concerning the prophecies” (Mosiah 1:2). It appears to be a characteristic of goodly parents to spend significant time and energy teaching their children the things of God. In promising great blessings to Abraham, the father of hundreds of millions, the Lord said that “Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation… . For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him” (Genesis 18:18–19).
All of these Book of Mormon passages refer to the language of the fathers. Language facility, the ability to communicate with others, is the life-breath of any civilization. We see its importance as Lehi’s sons were required to make a lengthy trek to secure some metal plates, which would ensure their emigrant colony some cultural stability and continuity. Lehi’s sons were taught in the learning of the Jews and the language of the Egyptians. The sons had likely been educated in Hebrew and Aramaic grammar and vocabulary (Aramaic being the language of diplomacy and commerce at the time), but it appears that they had learned to express their thoughts in written form in Egyptian characters. Lehi had been “taught in the language of the Egyptians therefore he could read [the brass plates’] engravings, and teach them to his children” (Mosiah 1:4). Perhaps Lehi mastered the Egyptian language, as Joseph and Moses before him. There appears to have been considerable commercial and cultural interchange between Judah and Egypt in the late 7th century b.c. Archaeological excavations show great Egyptian influence in this period, rising out of that nation’s rule over the land of Judah for some years prior to the opening of the Book of Mormon record. Egyptian soldiers, merchants, and travelers were present and active during that period.
Nephi said that he had seen many afflictions during his growing-up years, but also he had been “highly favored,” or highly blessed. Blessings and afflictions are part of a normal mortal life. Couldn’t all of the noble and great ones start out their life’s record with those same observations? Couldn’t Abraham, Moses, Isaiah, Peter, Paul, and Joseph Smith have summarized their life with the words—“having seen many afflictions in the course of my days”? Perhaps some of us could summarize our lives the same way. This is not a bad thing, for it means the Lord is working in our lives. He thinks enough of us to send us refining experiences.