“Nephi Did Slay Wild Beasts”

Brant Gardner

The miraculous appearance of new words on the ball both justified and confirmed their renewed faith, which Nephi completed by returning successfully from the hunt. Not only was obtaining food critical, but it proved that the fully functioning Liahona was an accurate instrument of revelation.

Nephi hunted alone. He does not give a reason, but perhaps, since only his bow could reach the proper range, his brothers may have been hindrances more than help. They might be able to kill smaller game, but their presence might actually decrease Nephi’s ability to stalk the larger game. Even alone, however, he is successful and brings back “beasts.” If he brought them all back at once, that would suggest small game, not large animals. Nephi gives us so little information that we cannot tell if he made several trips to bring back meat from a larger animal or one trip bringing smaller animals. The specifics of his success were not the point of writing this incident. It was the fact of his success after acting upon his faith.

Second Witness: Analytical & Contextual Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 1

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