1 – What would Nephi feel in this moment? Why would he immediately go to his Fathers tent? Who else can you think of who goes to their parents after having spoken to the Lord?
2 – How was Nephi prepared to heed his father? What kind of testimony must Nephi have had about the reality of personal revelations?
3 – What were the writings of the Jews? What does Lehi care about his genealogy? What has knowing your family history done for you? How can family history motivate us to be better? Why would the Jews take the time to engrave these things on brass wall lates?
4 – How detailed is the Lorda commandment to go and get the plates? Why do you think the Lord shared His end goal rather than an outlined plan for Nephi and his brothers? How does the Lord tell us what He wants us to do without giving us a list of actions today?
5 – Lehi doesn’t argue with Laman and Lemuel over whether the command is truly “a hard thing” but instead takes issue with from whom does the command come from; why is the source of the command important? What is the difference between a command from the Lord and a command from a man? How would this difference affect our desire to follow the command?
6 – What does it mean to be favored if the Lord? I hoy is being favored if the Lord desirable? Why does a Lehi have hope for Nephi’s obedience? The Lord knows Lehi will follow His command so Why doesn’t the Lord ask Lehi to take up this task? What would be another reason besides physical limitations that the Lord would want Nephi and his brothers to go?
7 – How can Nephi be so confident the Lord will will help? How does knowing the Lord always provides a way for all people to keep His commandments increase our faith in Him? How would you feel as a parent to hear these words come from your child?
8 – What pattern was demonstrated by Nephi and described by Lehi? How do we become blessed by the Lord?
9 – Laman and Lemuel did go to Jerusalem like Nephi and therefore were obedient, but what is the difference between Nephi and his brothers? Is obedience enough and all the Lord requires? Why not?
10 – What must it had been like to travel for days back to Jerusalem with people who didn’t understand the commandment was from God? What is the difference between Nephi’s willing obedience and Laman and Lemuel’s obligatory obedience?
11 – Why cast lots and have one of them go alone? What does this tell us about what the group was feeling? Is it common for a rich powerful man to entertain any man who knocks on his door? What are some possible reasons Laban would entertain Laman?
12 – The Lord honors our agency, why is it important that Laban was asked to simply hand over the plates of brass? Why does Nephi add the fact that the plates contained the genealogy of his family?
13 – Why would Labán become angry when simply asked to hand the plates over? What do we learn about Laban from his reaction and willingness to lie about Laman being a robber?
14 – everyone in this party became sorrowful but only Nephi’s brothers figured it was time to head home. Why?
15 – How do Nephi’s words in verse 15 mirror what he told his father in verse 3? What happens when your words of belief turn into actions of belief?
16 – Why is encouraging better than scolding? How does Nephi’s knowledge that the Lord provides a way to complete any task He commands change the way he thinks and acts? From this verse how can you tell that Nephi knows his father is being led by God? How did Nephi know this?
17 – “He Knew” is a strong certainty to claim; how did Nephi know his father knew? When has there been a time in your life where through the Spirit you knew something was true? Were there any moments of doubt and how did you overcome this doubt?
18 – How does this verse demonstrate the Lords respect for agency? How does this verse show that the Lord looks after His servants?
19 – How will the plates preserve their language? What are other benefits from having the plates? Does Nephi see the whole picture yet? What does this tell you about Nephi’s faith even when he doesn’t understand the whole picture? How are we distracted by the whole picture when we should focus on the task at hand?
20 – Nephi explains the Spiritual blessings of having the plates; does he see the whole picture or is there more? Why is a written record so important? Why are these scripture written on brass instead of paper? There were copies of the brass plates on paper that were more accessible, why wouldn’t the Lord command Nephi to get those records instead?
21 – What influence for good could you have on siblings? Why didn’t Nephi force his brothers to be faithful? Why didn’t Nephi just go in his own?
22-24 – What is the difference between Laman’s idea of how to get the plates and Nephi’s idea? What does this say about Nephi’s mindset in completing a task from the Lord and Laman’s?
25 – How does this verse demonstrate the Lord once again honoring Laban’s agency? What does this tell us about Laban as a person? What must Jerusalem must have been like if Laban felt comfortable to kill and take what he wanted?
26-27 – What did Nephi and his brothers value more than those great possessions?
28 – What is the difference in perspective when you are always looking backwards vs looking forward? If Nephi knew the family would not return to Jerusalem but his brothers always thought they would return how does this explain each of their behaviors? Besides losing the treasure what might have Laman and Lemuel believe they lost socially?
29-30 – Why did the Lord send an angel at this moment? If the Lord could send an angel to save Nephi why wouldn’t the Lord send an angel to grab the plates from Laban and deliver them to Nephi? Why was Nephi chosen by the Lord to be a ruler over Laman and Lemuel? How would Laman and Lemuel felt about this news?
31 – If Laman and Lemuel had a better understanding of who God is, how would this have changed their murmurings? How is believing in God different from understanding God? Laman and Lemuel just saw an angel did they doubt that there was a God? Could they doubt this errand was given to them from God? Did Laman and Lemuel debate over God’s existence when the Angel left? What did laman and Lemuel debate once the angel left? How can we build greater faith? Is belief alone enough? What are some ways we can come to know God and His awesome power?