“All My Joints Are Weak”

Brant Gardner

As with others who have had tremendous spiritual experiences, Nephi speaks of the physical cost of the spiritual events. Nephi's concern over his heritage in Jerusalem is a strong theme of his writings, and an understandable one. Not only has he left a homeland, but he most certainly left some part of an extended family there, as well as any friends that he might have had. To know that it is not just the separation, but the devastating experience of those who remained weighed heavily on him. It is just possible, given his last statement, that Nephi experienced some form of survivor's guilt, that condition that creates guilt in those who have been saved from devastation that takes most of their loved ones, and in this case, his homeland.

Multidimensional Commentary on the Book of Mormon

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