Blessed Art Thou Nephi for Those Things That Thou Hast Done

Alan C. Miner

According to Rex Reeve, at a time when Nephi was "much cast down because of the wickedness of the people . . . a voice came unto him saying: Blessed art thou, Nephi, for those things which thou hast done." (Helaman 10:3-4.) Almost point for point Mormon showed how Nephi exhibited the exact opposite of the fallen tendencies of most others, which he described in Helaman 12:4-6:

1. Foolish

2. Vain

3. Evil and devilish

4. Quick to do iniquity

5. Slow to do good

6. Quick to hearken to the words of the evil one

7. Quick to set their hearts on the vain things of the world

8. Quick to be lifted up in pride

9. Quick to boast

10. Slow to remember the Lord their God

11. Slow to give ear to God's counsels

12. Slow to walk in wisdom's paths

13. Not desirous that the Lord their God, who created them, should rule and reign over them

14. Eager to set aside God's counsel

15. Not desirous that God should be their guide.

[Rex C. Reeve, Jr., "God's Way or Man's: The Ultimate Choice," in Studies in Scripture: Book of Mormon, Part 2, pp. 108-111]

"Blessed Art Thou Nephi for Those Things That Thou Hast Done"

According to Rex Reeve, at a time when Nephi was "much cast down because of the wickedness of the people . . . a voice came unto him saying: Blessed art thou, Nephi, for those things which thou hast done." (Helaman 10:3-4.) Almost point for point Mormon showed how Nephi exhibited the exact opposite of the fallen tendencies of most others, which he described in Helaman 12:4-6:

1. Foolish

2. Vain

3. Evil and devilish

4. Quick to do iniquity

5. Slow to do good

6. Quick to hearken to the words of the evil one

7. Quick to set their hearts on the vain things of the world

8. Quick to be lifted up in pride

9. Quick to boast

10. Slow to remember the Lord their God

11. Slow to give ear to God's counsels

12. Slow to walk in wisdom's paths

13. Not desirous that the Lord their God, who created them, should rule and reign over them

14. Eager to set aside God's counsel

15. Not desirous that God should be their guide.

[Rex C. Reeve, Jr., "God's Way or Man's: The Ultimate Choice," in Studies in Scripture: Book of Mormon, Part 2, pp. 108-111]

Step by Step Through the Book of Mormon: A Cultural Commentary

References