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Scripture Block
1 Nephi 11-15
January 20-26. “Armed with Righteousness and with the Power of God”
KnoWhys
Recommended Resources
Learn about the Book of Mormon with verse by verse commentaries from renowned Book of Mormon scholars like John W. Welch and Brant A. Gardner in the ScripturePlus app. Read this week's KnoWhy connected with the Come Follow Me curriculum, and watch a video elucidating an insight in this week's scripture reading. If you are looking to dive deep into your study, skip down to "Additional Resources" for a selected bibliography of articles, books, and chapters on 1 Nephi 11–15.
Reading Plan
Structure your personal scripture study by following a multimedia, day by day plan. Each day's assignment includes the required scripture passages from the Come Follow Me curriculum, as well as suggestions for additional resources to bring context and understanding to your study. Download the ScripturePlus app to integrate this Reading Plan into your personal scripture study and track your progress.
Monday
- 1 Nephi 11:1–11
- Chart: A Comparison of Lehi's Dream and Nephi's Vision
- KnoWhy 396: How Do the Book of Moses and Book of Mormon Help Us Understand the Endowment?
Explore Further
Tuesday
- 1 Nephi 11:12–36
- KnoWhy 13: What Does the Virgin Mary Have to Do with the Tree of Life?
- KnoWhy 427: How Are Rod and Sword Connected to the Word of God?
Wednesday
- 1 Nephi 12:1–23
- KnoWhy 14: What was the Great and Terrible Gulf in Lehi’s Dream?
- KnoWhy 404: What Does an Ancient Book About Enoch Have to Do With Lehi’s Dream?
Thursday
- 1 Nephi 13:1–42
- Quote: "The titles church of the devil and great and abominable church are used to identify all churches or organizations of whatever name or nature - whether political, philosophical, educational, economic social, fraternal, civic, or religious - which are designed to take men on a course that leads away from God and his laws and thus from salvation in the kingdom of God…. Any church or organization of any kind whatever which satisfies the innate religious longings of man and keeps him from coming to the saving truths of Christ and his gospel is therefore not of God." McConkie, Bruce R. Mormon Doctrine. Salt Lake City, UT: Bookcraft, 1991.
- Quote 82: "...The American Revolutionists were the target of the mother Gentiles. “We are not talking about righteousness here. We are not talking about just the English…either. Remember, there were the French and the Spanish—the French and Indian War and the Spanish wars. All the wars of succession in Europe had their reflections on this continent. Remember, George Washington had to fight both the French and the British." Nibley, Hugh. Teachings of the Book of Mormon. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1990.
- KnoWhy 16: Were Plain and Precious Doctrines Lost?
Friday
- 1 Nephi 14:1–30
- KnoWhy 16: Are There Really Only Two Churches?
Saturday
- 1 Nephi 15:1–11
- Quote: "Nephi exercised faith in God to accomplish what he was asked to do. In contrast, Laman and Lemuel, 'being hard in their hearts, … did not look unto the Lord as they ought.' They seemed to feel that the Lord was obligated to provide answers to questions that they had not posed. 'The Lord maketh no such thing known unto us,' they said, but they did not even make the effort to ask. This is the scriptural equivalent of derisive skepticism." Renlund, Dale G. "That I Might Draw All Men Unto Me." General Conference April 2016.
- KnoWhy 17: How Did God Call His Prophets in Ancient Times?
Sunday
- 1 Nephi 15:12–36
- Chart: Three Trees in the Book of Mormon
- Quote: "Lehi and his seed are not the only branch to be grafted into the olive tree. All of the branches of the house of Israel will be grafted in. The allegory of Zenos speaks of three natural branches. Nephi spoke to his brothers of one of the two other natural branches, 'the restoration of the Jews in the latter days'…. The other branch, the lost tribes, will be identified…. The covenant made to Abraham will be fulfilled in the latter days through the grafting in of the natural branches and in offering of the blessings of the gospel to all nations as Abraham was promised.” Nyman, Monte S. I, Nephi Wrote This Record. Orem, UT: Granite Pub. and Distribution, 2003.
- KnoWhy 18: What are the “Fiery Darts of the Adversary” Spoken of by Nephi?
Additional Resources contains a selected bibliography of articles, charts, chapters, and books on 1 Nephi 11–15.
Additional Resources (Bibliography)
Poetry Selections
Anderson, Sharon. Love of God (1 Nephi 11:21-22)." The Glory of the Son—Poetic Insights: Jesus Christ and God’s Great Plan of Happiness.
Anderson, Sharon. "Latter-Day Gathering (1 Nephi 13:35, 37)." The Glory of the Son—Poetic Insights: Jesus Christ and God’s Great Plan of Happiness.
Anderson, Sharon. "Gathered and Grafted (1 Nephi 15:16)." The Glory of the Son—Poetic Insights: Jesus Christ and God’s Great Plan of Happiness.
1 Nephi 11
Black, Susan Easton. "'Behold, I Have Dreamed a Dream'." In The Book of Mormon: First Nephi, The Doctrinal Foundation, edited by Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr., 113-124. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1988.
Bokovoy, David E.. "'Thou Knowest That I Believe': Invoking The Spirit of the Lord as Council Witness in 1 Nephi 11." Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture 1 (2012): 1-23.
Easton-Flake, Amy. “Lehi’s Dream as a Template for Understanding Each Act of Nephi’s Vision,” in The Things Which My Father Saw: Approaches to Lehi’s Dream and Nephi’s Vision (2011 Sperry Symposium), ed. Daniel L. Belnap, Gaye Strathearn, and Stanley A. Johnson (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University; Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2011), 179–98.
Griggs, C. Wilfred. "The Book of Mormon as an Ancient Book." BYU Studies Quarterly 22, no. 3 (1982): 259-277.
Griggs, C. Wilfred. "The Book of Mormon as an Ancient Book." In Book of Mormon Authorship: New Light on Ancient Origins, edited by Noel B. Reynolds, 75-101. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, 1982.
Halverson, Jared M. “Lehi’s Dream and Nephi’s Vision as Apocalyptic Literature,” in The Things Which My Father Saw: Approaches to Lehi’s Dream and Nephi’s Vision (2011 Sperry Symposium), ed. Daniel L. Belnap, Gaye Strathearn, and Stanley A. Johnson (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University; Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2011), 53–69.
Hardy, Grant “Prophetic Perspectives and Prerogative: How Lehi and Nephi Applied the Lessons of Lehi’s Dream,” in The Things Which My Father Saw: Approaches to Lehi’s Dream and Nephi’s Vision (2011 Sperry Symposium), ed. Daniel L. Belnap, Gaye Strathearn, and Stanley A. Johnson (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University; Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2011), 199–213.
Hilton, III, John. ""Look! And I Looked": Lessons in Learning and Teaching from Nephi's Vision." Religious Educator: Perspectives on the Restored Gospel 13, no. 2 (2012): 32-43.
Judd Jr., Frank F. “What Nephi’s Vision Teaches about the Bible and the Book of Mormon,” in The Things Which My Father Saw: Approaches to Lehi’s Dream and Nephi’s Vision (2011 Sperry Symposium), ed. Daniel L. Belnap, Gaye Strathearn, and Stanley A. Johnson (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University; Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2011), 282–99.
Lund, Gerald N.. "The Mysteries of God Revealed by the Power of the Holy Ghost." In The Book of Mormon: First Nephi, The Doctrinal Foundation, edited by Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr., 151-159. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1988.
Millet, Robert L.. "Another Testament of Jesus Christ." In The Book of Mormon: First Nephi, The Doctrinal Foundation, edited by Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr., 161-175. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1988.
Olsen, Steven L.. "The Centrality of Nephi's Vision." Religious Educator: Perspectives on the Restored Gospel 11, no. 2 (2010): 50-65.
Olsen, Steven L.. "Nephi's Literary Endeavor." Religious Educator: Perspectives on the Restored Gospel 4, no. 3 (2003): 133-141.
Parker, Jared T. “The Doctrine of Christ in 2 Nephi 31–32 as an Approach to the Vision of the Tree of Life,” in The Things Which My Father Saw: Approaches to Lehi’s Dream and Nephi’s Vision (2011 Sperry Symposium), ed. Daniel L. Belnap, Gaye Strathearn, and Stanley A. Johnson (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University; Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2011), 161–78.
Skinner, Andrew C.. "The Foundational Doctrines of 1 Nephi 11-14." Religious Educator: Perspectives on the Restored Gospel 2, no. 2 (2001): 139-155.
Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. A Comparison of Lehi's Dream and Nephi's Vision. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999.
Welch, John W.. "Connections Between the Visions of Lehi and Nephi." In Pressing Forward with the Book of Mormon: The FARMS Updates of the 1990s, edited by John W. Welch and Melvin J. Thorne, 49-53.
Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. Four Stages of the Nephite Prophetic View. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999.
Woodger, Mary Jane and Michelle Vanegas Brodrick, “Lehi’s Dream and Nephi’s Vision as Used by Church Leaders,” in The Things Which My Father Saw: Approaches to Lehi’s Dream and Nephi’s Vision (2011 Sperry Symposium), ed. Daniel L. Belnap, Gaye Strathearn, and Stanley A. Johnson (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University; Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2011), 374–92.
Zinner, Samuel. "'Zion' and 'Jerusalem' as Lady Wisdom in Moses 7 and Nephi's Tree of Life Vision." Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture 12 (2014): 281-323.
Book of Mormon Central, “How Do the Book of Moses and Book of Mormon Help Us Understand the Endowment? (1 Nephi 11:1),” KnoWhy 396 (January 4, 2018).
Book of Mormon Central, “Why Can Nephi’s Vision Be Called an Apocalypse? (1 Nephi 11:2–3),” KnoWhy 471 (September 27, 2018).
Christensen, Kevin. “Nephi, Wisdom, and the Deuteronomist Reform.” Insights: A Window on the Ancient World 23, no. 2 (2003): 2–3.
Book of Mormon Central, “Why Were Lehi and Nephi Guided by Angelic Escorts in Their Visions? (1 Nephi 11:11),” KnoWhy 492 (December 11, 2018).
Peterson, Daniel C.. "Nephi and His Asherah." Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 9, no. 2 (2000): 16-25, 80-81.
Book of Mormon Central, “What Does the Virgin Mary Have to Do with the Tree of Life? (1 Nephi 11:18),” KnoWhy 13 (January 18, 2016).
Welch, John W.. ""The Lamb of God" in Pre-Christian Texts." In Pressing Forward with the Book of Mormon: The FARMS Updates of the 1990s, edited by John W. Welch and Melvin J. Thorne, 40-42. Provo, UT: FARMS, 1999.
Tvedtnes, John A.. "Notes and Communications: Knowledge of Christ to Come." Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 5, no. 1 (1996): 159-161.
Book of Mormon Central, “Why Didn’t Nephi Mention Mary’s Name? (1 Nephi 11:22),” KnoWhy 543 (December 24, 2019).
Book of Mormon Central, “How Are Rod and Sword Connected to the Word of God? (1 Nephi 11:25),” KnoWhy 427 (April 24, 2018).
Christenson, Allen J.. "Maya Harvest Festivals and the Book of Mormon: Annual FARMS Lecture." Review of Books on the Book of Mormon 3, no. 1 (1991): 1-31.
1 Nephi 12
Book of Mormon Central, “Where is the Land of Promise? (2 Nephi 1:5),” KnoWhy 497 (January 8, 2019).
Flammer, Philip M.. "A Land of Promise, Choice Above All Other Lands." In The Book of Mormon: First Nephi, The Doctrinal Foundation, edited by Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr., 217-229. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1988.
Marsh, David Brent. "Peace Through Christ: The Book of Mormon's Divine Perspective on War." In The Fulness of the Gospel: Foundational Teachings from the Book of Mormon, edited by Camille Fronk Olson, Brian M. Hauglid, Patty Smith and Thomas A. Wayment, 246-259. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 2003.
Book of Mormon Central, “What Caused the Darkness and Destruction in the 34th Year? (3 Nephi 8:20),” KnoWhy 197 (September 28, 2016).
Anderson, Kenneth W.. "The Twelve: A Light unto This People." In The Book of Mormon: 3 Nephi 9-30, This is My Gospel, edited by Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr., 149-158. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1993.
Barney, Kevin L.. "Further Light on Enallage." In Pressing Forward with the Book of Mormon: The FARMS Updates of the 1990s, edited by John W. Welch and Melvin J. Thorne, 43-48. Provo, UT: FARMS, 1999.
Barney, Kevin L.. "Notes and Communications: Divine Discourse Directed at a Prophet’s Posterity in the Plural: Further Light on Enallage." Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 6, no. 2 (1997): 229-234.
Book of Mormon Central, “What Does an Ancient Book About Enoch Have to Do With Lehi’s Dream? (1 Nephi 12:16–17),” KnoWhy 404 (February 1, 2018).
Book of Mormon Central, “Why Did Lehi and Jeremiah Find Themselves in a Dark and Dreary Wilderness? (1 Nephi 8:7),” KnoWhy 544 (January 3, 2020).
Book of Mormon Central, “What is the Significance of the Great and Spacious Building? (1 Nephi 12:18),” KnoWhy 546 (January 17, 2020).
Book of Mormon Central, “What was the Great and Terrible Gulf in Lehi’s Dream? (1 Nephi 12:18),” KnoWhy 14 (January 19, 2016).
1 Nephi 13
Flammer, Philip M.. "A Land of Promise, Choice Above All Other Lands." In The Book of Mormon: First Nephi, The Doctrinal Foundation, edited by Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr., 217-229. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1988.
Alford, Kenneth L. “‘Delivered by the Power of God’: Nephi’s Vision of America’s Birth,” in The Things Which My Father Saw: Approaches to Lehi’s Dream and Nephi’s Vision (2011 Sperry Symposium), ed. Daniel L. Belnap, Gaye Strathearn, and Stanley A. Johnson (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University; Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2011), 264–81.
Driggs, Lori. “Nephi’s Vision and the Loss and Restoration of Plain and Precious Truths,” in The Things Which My Father Saw: Approaches to Lehi’s Dream and Nephi’s Vision (2011 Sperry Symposium), ed. Daniel L. Belnap, Gaye Strathearn, and Stanley A. Johnson (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University; Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2011), 70–91.
Robinson, Stephen E.. "Early Christianity and 1 Nephi 13-14." In The Book of Mormon: First Nephi, The Doctrinal Foundation, edited by Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr., 177-191. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1988.
Robinson, Stephen E.. "Early Christianity and 1 Nephi 13-14." In A Book of Mormon Treasury: Gospel Insights from General Authorities and Religious Educators, 112-127. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 2003.
Robinson, Stephen E.. "Nephi’s “Great and Abominable Church”." Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 7, no. 1 (1998): 32-39, 70.
Hardy, Grant R.. "Columbus: By Faith or Reason?" In Reexploring the Book of Mormon, edited by John W. Welch, 32-36. Provo, UT/Salt Lake City: FARMS/Deseret Book, 1992.
Peterson, Daniel C. “Christ-Bearer.” FARMS Review of Books 8, no. 1 (1996): 104–111.
Hanson, Louise G.. Columbus, Christopher In Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Edited by Daniel H. Ludlow. Vol. 1. New York: Macmillan, 1992.
Garr, Arnold K.. Christopher Columbus: A Latter-day Saint Perspective. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1992.
Book of Mormon Central, “Why Is There a Need for the Testimony of Two Nations? (2 Nephi 29:8),” KnoWhy 56 (March 17, 2016).
Book of Mormon Central, “Were Plain and Precious Doctrines Lost? (1 Nephi 13:26),” KnoWhy 15 (January 20, 2016).
Welch, John W.. "The Plain and Precious Parts." In Reexploring the Book of Mormon, edited by John W. Welch, 37-40. Provo, UT/Salt Lake City: FARMS/Deseret Book, 1992.
Nyman, Monte S.. "The Restoration of Plain and Precious Parts: The Book of Helaman." In The Book of Mormon: Helaman Through 3 Nephi 8, According to Thy Word, edited by Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr., 147-161. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1992.
Book of Mormon Central, “What Were the “Other Records” Nephi Saw in Vision? (1 Nephi 13:39),” KnoWhy 376 (October 26, 2017).
Matthews, Robert J.. "Establishing the Truth of the Bible." In The Book of Mormon: First Nephi, The Doctrinal Foundation, edited by Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr., 193-215. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1988.
1 Nephi 14
Book of Mormon Central, “Are There Really Only Two Churches? (1 Nephi 14:10),” KnoWhy 16 (January 21, 2016).
Griffin, Tyler J.. "Nephi: An Ideal Teacher of Less-Than-Ideal Students." Religious Educator: Perspectives on the Restored Gospel 13, no. 2 (2012): 61-71.
Griffiths, Casey Paul. “The Church of the Lamb of God,” in The Things Which My Father Saw: Approaches to Lehi’s Dream and Nephi’s Vision (2011 Sperry Symposium), ed. Daniel L. Belnap, Gaye Strathearn, and Stanley A. Johnson (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University; Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2011), 37–52.
Owen, Paul. "Theological Apostasy and the Role of Canonical Scripture: A Thematic Analysis of 1 Nephi 13–14." Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 23 (2014): 81-100.
Robinson, Stephen E.. "Nephi’s “Great and Abominable Church”." Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 7, no. 1 (1998): 32-39, 70.
Robinson, Stephen E.. "Warring against the Saints of God." Ensign 18, no. 1 (1988): 34-39.
Welch, John W.. "Connections Between the Visions of Lehi and Nephi." In Pressing Forward with the Book of Mormon: The FARMS Updates of the 1990s, edited by John W. Welch and Melvin J. Thorne, 49-53.
Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. Interpretation of Lehi's Vision. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999.
1 Nephi 15
Griffin, Tyler J.. "Nephi: An Ideal Teacher of Less-Than-Ideal Students." Religious Educator: Perspectives on the Restored Gospel 13, no. 2 (2012): 61-71.
Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. Interpretation of Lehi's Vision. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999.
Book of Mormon Central, “How Did God Call His Prophets in Ancient Times? (1 Nephi 15:8),” KnoWhy 17 (January 22, 2016).
Reynolds, Noel B.. "Nephite Uses and Interpretations of Zenos." In The Allegory of the Olive Tree: The Olive, the Bible, and Jacob 5, edited by Stephen D. Ricks and John W. Welch, 21-49. Provo, UT/Salt Lake City: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies/Deseret Book, 1994.
Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. Personal Applications of Olive Symbolism. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999.
Bowen, Matthew L. “’What Meaneth the Rod of Iron’?.” Insights: A Window on the Ancient World 25, no. 2 (2005): 2–3.
Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. Metals in the Book of Mormon. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999.
Book of Mormon Central, “What are the “Fiery Darts of the Adversary” Spoken of by Nephi? (1 Nephi 15:24),” KnoWhy 18 (January 25, 2016).
Smoot, Stephen O.. "The “Fiery Darts of the Adversary” in 1 Nephi 15:24." Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture 18 (2016): 5-9.