Nephi Builds a Ship

1 Nephi 17

The Details:

Sojourn in the wilderness for 8 years
Stay in land Bountiful – full of fruit and wild honey by Irreantum
Pitch tents by seashore
Nephi commanded of the Lord to go to the mountain
Lord commands Nephi to build a ship after the manner which He will show him
Nephi asks where to go to find ore to make tools
Nephi makes a bellows from the skins of beasts, smites two stones to make fire.
The Lord tells Nephi that as they keep the commandments they shall be led by the Lord
After they arrive, they will know that the Lord did deliver them from destruction out of the land of Jerusalem.
Nephi strives to keep the commandments, exhorts his brothers to do the same
He makes tools molten out of the rock.
Ne'phi's brothers murmur that Nephi is a fool thinking that he can build a ship and cross the waters.
His brothers complain, don't labor, don't believe.
Nephi is sorrowful, his brothers rejoice over him, they tell him he is led by the foolish imaginations of his heart, he caused their sufferings, the people at Jerusalem are righteous
Nephi asks his brothers if they believe that Moses led the children of Israel out of bondage
He talks of the rebellion of the Israelites, and the wickedness of the people who inhabited the land that they took over.
The Lord esteems all flesh in one. The righteous are favored by God.
God raises up righteous nations and destroys the wicked
God commanded Lehi to depart into the wilderness
Nephi's brothers are swift to do iniquity and slow to remember the Lord their God. They have seen an angel and heard his voice. They were past feeling and could not feel his words.
By the power of the word the Lord can cause the earth to pass away.
Nephi is full of the Spirit of God, his frame has no strength
His brothers are angry and want to throw him in the sea.
He tells them not to touch him, if they do they will be smitten as a dried reed
Nephi tells them to murmur no more
“If God had commanded me to do all things I could to them.”
If God can do so many miracles, why can't he instruct me to build a ship?
Nephi stretches forth his hand and shocks his brethren
Nephi's brethren know that the Lord is with him. They want to worship him. He forbids them.
Nephi's brothers join in to help build the ship. It is not built according to the manner of men.
The ship is finished, it is of fine workmanship. Nephi's brethren are humbled.

The verse:

Lehi's family walked the wilderness for eight long years
In a land that they called Bountiful, a new frontier
Pitching tents at Irreantum on the sea's shoreline
While they wondered where they'd go to live when it was time

Nephi traveled up a mountain at the Lord's command

He was told to build a ship down by the seashore's sand
But the way to build this boat by men was not well known
So the Lord called Nephi up and then His way was shown

Then the prophet asked the Lord where he could find some ore

So he could make a tool or two or maybe even more
And then Nephi went a hunting and he didn't tire
Till a bellows made from skins of beasts did blow his fire

Then the Lord did tell to Nephi in another place

If he'd keep all the commandments then he would be safe
Nephi told his brothers that they should obey
And live their lives according to the Lord's own way.

Then he made some tools to help him out of molten rock

While his brothers murmured softly and his work did mock
They thought that Nephi was a fool to build a great big ship
And they wouldn't help him labor then to make the trip

Nephi's heart did sorrow and his hope was dim

While his brothers did rejoice and gloated over him
Then they told of all their suffering and its long duration
That was caused by Nephi's very foolish 'magination.

So then Nephi spoke about the folks in Moses' day

How the Lord took them from Egypt in his very own way
He asked if they believed just what the Lord had done
Then he taught them that the Lord esteemed all flesh in one

The righteous all were favored by the Lord, said he

While the wicked were destroyed, that's how it's meant to be
Father Lehi was commanded by the Lord to leave
And to go out in the wilderness and still believe

Nephi's brothers to iniquity went real fast and swift

But were slow remembering God and so they went adrift
An angel they had seen, also his voice they heard
But their hearts were very hard, they couldn't feel his word

Then the Spirit of the Lord took strength from Nephi's frams

While the brothers in their anger wanted him to blame
And they threatened that they'd throw him in the deep blue sea
Nephi stood and firmly told them, saying “Don't touch me!”

For they'd wither if they touched him, like a dead dried weed

And he warned them not to murmur but to pay strict heed
“For if God commanded me to do all things, I could”
His miracles can help me build this ship from wood

Then he stretched his arm out straight from where his feet did stand

And the Lord did shock his brothers right from Nephi's hand
Then they knew the Lord was with him and to worship him desired
But then Nephi did forbid them, for God only did inspire

Then they helped to build the ship according to God's holy plan

It was designed the Lord's own way, 'twas not known by any man
When it was done they were amazed and humbled at the time
For all the craft and workmanship that was exceeding fine