“My Father… Hath Been Commanded to Flee”

Brant Gardner

It is fascinating that the very first argument that Nephi puts forth is a defense of his father's response to prophecy. Clearly at least Laman and Lemuel had to be reminded of the commandment of the Lord to flee, and the reasons for it. The return to the land of Jerusalem was also likely to have shaken the remainder of the "faith" of Laman and Lemuel, since Jerusalem had obviously not been destroyed. Nephi reminds them that the entire journey of their family is a command from the Lord, and in their own best interests, even though those best interests concern future events.

Multidimensional Commentary on the Book of Mormon

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