Together or separate?
I’m reading the account Nephi gave of bringing the family of Ishmael so they could travel together to the promised land, 1 Nephi chapter 7. They’ve already been back to get the plates, and now they’ve convinced Ishmael and his family, at least two sons and their families, five daughters, plus Ishmael’s wife, to come with them. At some point they also gathered seeds of all kinds, because the very next chapter starts with them already having gathered them. I’d think they had some in their food storage, but they probably also got some when they were in Jerusalem. Nephi doesn’t go into all the details, but I can’t imagine them making many trips back and forth, especially given that every time he talks about them going, his brothers fight to go back to Jerusalem.
It’s a three day journey to where they camped outside; it takes at least that long to go and come, so it’s a week they’re gone when Sariah loses hope (chapter 5). Then they’re gone again for another week, possibly more; this time Nephi gets tied up and abandoned, but frees himself with the help of God. I’m mildly envious that he came up with what he wanted God to do and he asked; God did what Nephi had asked. The part I’m envious of is Nephi’s certainty that’s what he wanted God to do. At least, in hindsight, it looks like certainty. I’m not sure what I want God to do for me here, now. I’m living day to day, without a clear vision of what I want my life to look like, to live like.
Then Nephi lectures his brothers by the power of God, and they lose their tempers at him again. This time the others in the group dissuade them and they repent, apparently sincerely; they beg his forgiveness and he forgives them, as he says, frankly. It would do no good to keep throwing their rebellion in their faces. He needs their cooperation. Nephi may have put his foot down: go or not, but I’m going, and if you want to go with me, there can’t be any more tying me up and trying to leave me. Certainly there was a crisis of disunity in the group, temporarily healed over by persuasion. Ishmael’s family pulled together at least somewhat, too.
It’s possible that Lehi’s vision of the tree of life (chapter 8) happened while they were gone; he had a week to take care of his wife and his animals, and wait. I bet he spent that time trying to get closer to God, realizing just how daunting a task lay before them, and trying to prepare mentally. They’re really leaving everything they know. This representation of the choices they’re making and the people around them are making, fits Lehi’s position right then, on the cusp. Do I hold onto the rod and persist, or do I let it go and wander off? Also, together or separate?
