Book of Mormon Haiku - 1st Nephi 14

Wrath of God pour'd out

Saints of God throughout the earth

Arm'd with righteousness

1 Nephi 14 - An angel tells Nephi of the blessings and cursings to fall upon the gentiles; There are only two churches: the Church of the Lamb of God and the church of the devil; The saints of God in all nations are persecuted by the great and abominable church; The apostle John shall write concerning the end of the world.

This chapter gives us powerful impetus to look on each person, people, time and place with generosity and charity. Judge not. Be humble. Look to God, and live.

Book of Mormon Haiku: 1 Nephi 13

One group under wrath

Humble reading of the Word

One receives mercy

1 Nephi 13 - Nephi sees in vision: the church of the devil set up among the Gentiles; the discovery and colonizing of America; the loss of many plain and precious parts of the Bible; the resultant state of gentile apostacy; the restoration of the gospel, the coming forth of latter-day scripture, and the building up of Zion.

Nephi sees that Lehi's descendants, having lost all scripture, are under God's wrath. (interesting word, wrath.  See the other English words from the ancient wr)  He sees that the gentiles with the Book are humble and blessed by grace.  Even with many plain and precious parts removed, the Word is a mighty seed.

Book of Mormon Haiku - 1st Nephi Chapter 12

Destruction, then peace

Apex of Nephite hist'ry

How art thou fallen?

1 Nephi 12 - Nephi sees in vision: the land of promise; the righteousness, iniquity and downfall of its inhabitants; the coming of the Lamb of God among them; how the twelve disciples and the twelve apostles shall judge Israel; the loathsome and filthy state of those who dwindle in unbelief.



It is difficult to image Nephi's emotions as he viewed the future history of his children. Through it all, he knew that the Lord's promise of restoration was absolutely certain!

Book of Mormon: 1st Nephi Chapter 11

The tree which bore fruit

The Son of the most high God

Power, great glory

1 Nephi 11 - Nephi sees the Spirit of the Lord and is shown in vision the tree of life; He sees the mother of the Son of God and learns of the condescension of God; He sees the baptism, ministry, and crucifixion of the Lamb of God; He sees also the call and ministry of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

The love of God is the central fact of our lives.  As we become ever more aware of this absolute center of gravity, all around falls into proper focus and harmony glows.

Book of Mormon Haiku

1st Nephi Chapter 10

Savior, Redeemer

from Foundation of the world

Both Gentile and Jew

1 Nephi 10 - Lehi predicts the Babylonian captivity; He tells of the coming among the Jews of a Messiah, a Savior, a Redeemer; He tells also of the coming of the one who should baptize the Lamb of God; Lehi tells of the death and resurrection of the Messiah; He compares the scattering and gathering of Israel to an olive tree; Nephi speaks of the Son of God, of the gift of the Holy Ghost, and of the need for righteousness.

The Savior was anointed at a place and time long before the birth of nations.  By the power of the Holy Ghost, through faith on the Son of God, all the sons of Adam and all the daughters of Eve have access to revelation and salvation. Worlds without end.

Blessed Easter!

Publish glad tiddings

Vict'ry over death and hell

Risen Redeemer

The Book of Mormon

1st Nephi Chapter 9

God knoweth all things

For purposes I know not

Be wise and obey

1 Nephi 9 - Nephi makes two sets of records; Each is called the plates of Nephi; The larger plates contain a secular history, the smaller ones deal primarily with sacred things.

Humility is a precursor to faith.  Faith engenders wise obedience.  Scoffers, being deficient in both humility and faith, call such obedience "blind". 

Book of Mormon Haiku

1st Nephi Chapter 8

Great Mists of Darkness

Pressing forward to the tree

The rod of iron!

1 Nephi 8 - Lehi sees a vision of the tree of life; He partakes of its fruit and desires his family to do likewise; He sees a rod of iron, a strait and narrow path, and the mists of darkness that enshroud men; Sariah, Nephi, and Sam partake of the fruit, but Laman and Lemuel refuse.

We become accustomed to the darkness of this world.  If we are not daily connected with the Word, we can be overcome by the mists of darkness around us, and hardly notice.  We must both cling to the rod of iron and let our light shine for our fellows.

Book of Mormon Haiku

1st Nephi Chapter 7

Exceedingly wroth

Rebellious and murderous

Delivered from death

1 Nephi 7 - Lehi's sons return to Jerusalem and enlist Ishmael and his household in their cause; Laman and others rebel; Nephi exhorts his brethren to have faith in the Lord; They bind him with cords and plan his destruction; He is freed by the power of faith; His brethren ask forgiveness; Lehi and his company offer sacrifice and burn offerings.

Petty jealousy grew slowly into that measure of enmity that invites murder.  At every crossroads with another, we choose enmity or charity.

Book of Mormon Haiku

1st Nephi Chapter 6

I desire the room

Come unto Christ and be saved

Fulness of intent

1 Nephi 6 - Nephi writes the things of God; His purpose is to persuade men to come unto the God of Abraham and be saved.

We need to preserve space and time in our lives for those things that are most important. What are you doing today?

Book of Mormon Haiku

1st Nephi Chapter 5

Exceedingly glad

From Joseph, son of Jacob

Preserve commandments

1 Nephi 5 - Sariah complains against Lehi; Both rejoice over the return of their sons; They offer sacrifices; The plates of brass contain writings of Moses and the prophets; They identify Lehi as a descedant of Joseph; Lehi prophesies concerning his seed and the preservation of the plates.

Later, Lehi will declare: 'Man is that he might have joy.' Here we see that our happiness is the great purpose of scripture and commandments. When we glimps the enormity of God's love and purposes we are filled to overflowing with exceeding gladness.

Book of Mormon Haiku

1st Nephi Chapter 4

Brothers murmur still

Nephi heeds the still, small voice

Led by the Spirit

1 Nephi 4 - Nephi slays Laban at the Lord's command and then secures the plates of brass by stratagem; Zoram chooses to join Lehi's family in the wilderness.

When we do not hear the still small voice, it is time to turn down the world and stop murmuring. The touch of the Master's hand will return sight to our eyes, and hearing to our ears.