1 Nephi 16

(July 15, 2014)

                Has there ever been a better example of following a Priesthood leader than Nephi?  This was a young man who was led by the Spirit to get the Brass Plates, who had just come back from having a vision where he was taught in greater detail the interpretation of the superlative (at least in the record we have) vision of his father.  In any mortal, worldly sense Nephi had already surpassed his father.  Add to that the fact that Lehi was also complaining against the Lord at this time, and in our modern society we would have many who would claim that Lehi was a fallen prophet, and Nephi should have just taken over or gone to the Lord directly.

                Yet what does Nephi do?  He goes to his father.  He goes to the Priesthood.  He asks this leader, who is complaining about the Lord, to go to the Lord and give Nephi direction.  He humbles himself, and remembers his place.  He follows the counsel he was given (does anyone believe that Nephi would have been successful if he had gone somewhere other than where Lehi sent him?).  He takes what steps he can, in fashioning a bow, but at no point does he abandon the hierarchical structure of the Lord’s pattern.