Nephi Overcomes Loss

  2 Nephi 4

Background:

1.       Nephi lives in new promised land after many years of hardships in wilderness and on great waters.

2.       Brothers are constantly hardening their hearts against him— many times and now are threatening    murder.

3.       Lehi—the patriarch dies and leaves the leadership and great responsibility to Nephi

4.       He is now the Patriarch though not the eldest son.

Nephi Experiences Depression Symptoms:

a.       Sorrow—soul lingers in valley as though it cannot leave.  “Wretched man that I am.” v.17

S     Soul grieveth.

b.      Flesh wasted away—weight loss, no sleep v.26

c.       Strength slackens—so weak at this point that his physical strength is gone. v. 26

d.      Angry at himself for letting evil one into his heart to destroy his peace. Let’s evil into mind and heart so his peace or the Spirit is gone.v. 27

Questions why he should be this way when he has had such marvelous spiritual experiences.

What does he do to recover?

1.       Prays mightily to the Lord with great faith.

2.       Asks the Father to reprogram his heart and mind having a broken heart and contrite spirit. V. 32

a.       Asks that he will be able to walk in the strictness of the plain road. V 32

b.      Asks that he will shake at the appearance of sin. V 31

c.       Trust in the Lord not in the arm of flesh. V. 34

d.      Praise the Lord forever—gratitude v. 35

e.      Help to find a way to escape. V 33

f.        Please encircle me around in the robe of thy righteousness. V. 33

3.       Complete trust in the strength of “the rock” of God.

4.       Complete rebirth to do only God’s will.  

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Nephi decides, under the direction of the Holy Ghost, to solve his overwhelming stress and challenges by moving away from his hardened, rebellious brothers. He takes his family to a safer place and once again thrives in happiness.