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The Book of Mormon: brief theological introductions #1
1st Nephi: A Brief Theological Introduction
"I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents. . ." So begins the first book in the Book of Mormon, as the prophet Nephi brings us through the wilderness to a promised land where his family fractures rather than flourishes. But in spite of that tragedy, Nephi points us to the hope he found in his father's inspired dream for the future. Driven by his father's fears and faith, he sought and received his own revelations about how his people might someday find redemption and might ultimately help bring about the redemption of Israel and the entire human family. In this brief theological introduction, philosopher and theologian Joseph M. Spencer investigates the central themes and purposes of a book he calls a "theological masterpiece." What was Nephi trying to accomplish with his writings? How can readers today make better sense of Nephi's words? What can an ancient seer offer readers in the twenty-first century? Spencer introduces a Nephi for our moment, a complex prophet with an urgent message for a world in turmoil.
161 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 26, 2020
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March 23, 2020
Joseph Spencer is very good at reading. And the Church is better for it.
You learn this quickly in First Nephi: A Brief Theological Introduction, the first in a twelve-volume series put out by the Maxwell Institute at BYU. Where the "theological" could be intimidating, the "brief" and "introduction" are inviting. As is "1st Nephi"–a book that seemingly needs no introduction (and I emphasize seemingly). Spencer is aware of this:
Spencer is right. (I know this, because I teach Sunbeams, where I have sung so many songs about Nephi's courage and building boats.) But what I thought I knew made reading the book a humbling–and compelling–experience. I should know First Nephi best, but the insight-to-page ratio was so high that I began to wonder if I'd ever really paid attention at all. What more, each insight is made clearly in a warm and friendly tone. Even more, Spencer's book is grounded in what Nephi says. While all theological interpretation is creative, the best theology takes the text as its canvas: the constraints within which to draw meaning. This book does that well. (The index suggests he cites 1 Nephi about 250 times, several of these citations grouped across several sentences or pages. As far as a book about a book goes, that's good.)
In short, Spencer's book is novel, careful, and clear. And it's determined to hear Nephi out, and from there, apply what we've learned to the Church: its members and mission. All of this makes it a worthy and promising start to this series of theological forays into the books of the Book of Mormon.
That's the main part of the review, but let me follow with a few additional notes on Nephi's design, the reading strategies Spencer uses (and doesn't use), the thing I love most about the book (how considerate it is), and some closing critique and hope for the future of the series.
"A TIGHT, DELIBERATE STRUCTURE"
Aside from learning that I don't know how to read, the other main takeaway is that First Nephi is a very designed book. First Nephi has "a tight, deliberate structure," with "a theological center of gravity." The larger outline of the book, the original divisions, the "central story" of each chapter, and word choice all cascade and run together to make some larger observations about God and His covenant. Yes, Spencer acknowledges that "First Nephi is less a report about a family’s difficult experiences than an explanation, historical and theological, for intertribal conflict between Nephites and Lamanites." This has been stated many times before, in many different ways. Spencer creates an outline, however, that centers First Nephi on the scriptural traditions Lehi's family receives from the plates, and on their own visionary encounters with God. These two strands–ancient scripture and modern (for them) revelation–combine into an impactful message centered around God's plan to redeem the Lehites. If you understand that, everything–Lehi's dream, Nephi's vision, Isaiah, and much else besides–falls into place.
It's terrific stuff. My favorite part was early on in the book: I was reading about Lehi's dream, and realizing (as Spencer argues) that it's not really about the individual believers journey to Christ–though we can read it that way. It's about Lehi's sons. The vision is framed by Lehi expressing concern for Laman and Lemuel, and everything in the dream shifts dramatically after Laman and Lemuel reject the fruit–a moment that also comes at the center of the vision. In the context of what I was reading, this–and his exposition of Nephi's vision in 1 Nephi 11-14–hit me like a ton of bricks. Far from making the story less personal, it reminded me that the God I worship is over history. (And at a time like this, with the Coronavirus everywhere in the news, that's a comforting thought.)
READING STRATEGIES
One thing that intrigued me was Spencer's reading strategy. How does he approach scripture? What assumptions does he make, and what methods does he follow?
The main thing he wants me to know is this: "the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing." Said another way, don't miss or forget the "big picture" that makes up the larger book of First Nephi. As he says at the outset of the first chapter:
The same chapter closes, in part, with these lines–forming a kind of inclusio of his own:
Spencer's point comes from a conviction similar to the folks who make the Bible Project videos: each book or section of scripture is a literary whole, and should be treated as such. Rather than being obsessed with one scene, we should ask: what's the larger point of the book? (For other examples of book-by-book analysis, see the Bible Project's videos on Samuel and Matthew.)
In addition to emphasizing the big picture, Spencer also talks a lot about words. He discusses the difference between "command" and "constrain"; he notes the different places "Lamb of God," "Messiah," and "Christ" all appear; he looks at the distinction between "Holy Ghost" and "the Spirit"; and in all these moments, makes meaning out of it. This assumes a very precise, "tight" translation of the Book of Mormon, instead of a loose translation, i.e. Joseph receiving the words and clothing them in words he himself understood. Is this an accurate assumption? I don't know. But Spencer draws pages of meaning from where and when these words appear in Nephi's book, and in a way that coheres with Nephi's message.
In summary, he asks questions like these:
Structure. Can we take the structure seriously? (For example, is there evidence it was designed, and not just random?) Assuming we can, what are the contours and elements of that structure? What are the author's original divisions? Are there editorial hints or transitions that suggest how to group these divisions? Are there "central stories" within each division? And what can all this tell us about the book's theological concerns and the author's intent?
Textual Details. Assuming that earlier manuscript changes have priority, what can we learn from the Original and Printer's manuscripts? When it comes to specific words, titles, and names, what is this word’s count and frequency? More, what is the word’s distribution and sequence, and what can that tell us?
Drawing Conclusions. With this close reading and context in mind, what can we learn and draw from this scripture?
These are good questions. For a comprehensive look at First Nephi, they are not entirely sufficient–there are historical approaches that Spencer could have used. There is very little doctrinal connection here; there is not much effort to look outside of the text at historical facts. There are no deep dives into Lehi's encounter with God as a model of theophany, or whether or not the family left Jerusalem in the midst of a passover. (A good example of a counter-approach is Brant Gardner's Second Witness: Analytical and Contextual Commentary on the Book of Mormon, which is analytic and attempts to be comprehensive.) But while Spencer's commentary misses on the analysis, it functions brilliantly on the level of synthesis. Much as I love these other commentaries, none of them left with as clear and compelling a picture of the overall message of the book as Spencer's.
Which brings me to my last point.
BEING CONSIDERATE, AND PASTORAL CARE
The final thing I want to note about this remarkable book is something I find endearing: Spencer's determination to make his work readable and relevant to readers like you and I. He does this in three key ways:
First of all, as a good writer, he's ridiculously thoughtful. He's great at providing check-ins throughout each chapter: zooming in, then zooming out, then zooming in again, then zooming out, then zooming in yet again and zooming out yet again, all to make sure I never lose sight of the picture. I've seen it in his other works, too, and it's very considerate. This is not a trait shared by all writers, and certainly not by all scriptural commentaries, which can seem like a string of miscellaneous insights without much to draw them into a complete whole.
Secondly, Spencer spends the second half of the book addressing modern concerns: the murder of Laban, Nephi's treatment of Laman of Lemuel, and women (or the lack thereof) in Nephi's writings–all questions he's been asked by his students at BYU and elsewhere. He offers rich and creative answers to these questions, but not until after we are oriented to what Nephi wanted us to know. That's a price I was happy to pay, and I really liked his answers to these questions, though I won't explore them here.
Thirdly, he has pastoral as well as academic ambitions. These are not cool scriptural nuggets that have nothing to do with our lived-out lives. No. Each chapter ends with a mini-sermon (each set after a lovely Brian Kershisnik woodcut): a takeaway that suggests how we might better relate to each other, to modern prophets, and to the world. Some examples:
Chapter 1 ends with a call to weave together the voices of ancient prophets with the voice of modern ones.
Chapter 2 ends with a missionary call, drawing insight and renewed Abrahamic purpose from Nephi's vision.
Chapter 4 ends with a call to live together in love, drawing this from the story of Laban.
The other chapters have similar conclusions, but they're all about how to live as a church and community. And so Spencer sets an example both of how to dig deep into ancient scripture, and how to draw out, from these insights, spiritually powerful and intellectually rich spurs to action.
CRITIQUE AND CONCLUSION
This book is not perfect, and heaven knows there may be flaws. (I suspect Spencer would admit as much.) Some minor quibbles:
Spencer has a habit of hanging a lot of meaning on specific words, like pronouns (i.e. his chapter on women) or phrases (i.e. the "more sacred part" he discusses in The Vision of All: Twenty-five Lectures on Isaiah in Nephi’s Record). I am not certain that the Book of Mormon translation is precise enough to bear that load–see comments on this blog post for an example of this discussion–or that Nephi intended us to read this much onto these phrases.
The analysis does not take into account other forms of critique or analysis, such as other forms of literary analysis (i.e. Grant Hardy) or historical and cultural analysis (i.e. Brant Gardner). As scholarship progress, I hope to see a theological synthesis like Spencer's integrated into a more holistic synthesis that looks at all of these considerations, and circumscribes all these perspectives into one great whole.
Spencer leaves some arguments unpacked that should be whole books, like his take on the Great Apostasy described in Nephi's vision. I have lots of questions about that.
For these and other reasons, I look forward to other scholars engaging with the variety of readings and interpretations that Spencer offers. But these are minor quibbles. The book accomplishes what Spencer hoped to accomplish, which is to show how much we miss of a theological nature.
I hope Spencer's book is widely read. It's a powerful, compelling, and rich introduction to the book I thought I knew. It's a model of clear, lucid writing. It invites every reader to consider how Nephi's perspective should shape our personal and collective ministry. And it sets a high bar for what promises to be a very interesting series.
This review is cross-posted from my blog, Stagger Onwared Rejoicing.
You learn this quickly in First Nephi: A Brief Theological Introduction, the first in a twelve-volume series put out by the Maxwell Institute at BYU. Where the "theological" could be intimidating, the "brief" and "introduction" are inviting. As is "1st Nephi"–a book that seemingly needs no introduction (and I emphasize seemingly). Spencer is aware of this:
"We know this book best… we turn the departure from Jerusalem into novels. We paint the tree of life. We film the trek through the desert. We sing about building the boat. We sermonize about our personal Liahonas. We make keychains that look like the iron rod. Our children strive to be like Nephi. We pray over our Lamans and Lemuels. First Nephi inspires and gives shape to Latter-day Saint devotion."
Spencer is right. (I know this, because I teach Sunbeams, where I have sung so many songs about Nephi's courage and building boats.) But what I thought I knew made reading the book a humbling–and compelling–experience. I should know First Nephi best, but the insight-to-page ratio was so high that I began to wonder if I'd ever really paid attention at all. What more, each insight is made clearly in a warm and friendly tone. Even more, Spencer's book is grounded in what Nephi says. While all theological interpretation is creative, the best theology takes the text as its canvas: the constraints within which to draw meaning. This book does that well. (The index suggests he cites 1 Nephi about 250 times, several of these citations grouped across several sentences or pages. As far as a book about a book goes, that's good.)
In short, Spencer's book is novel, careful, and clear. And it's determined to hear Nephi out, and from there, apply what we've learned to the Church: its members and mission. All of this makes it a worthy and promising start to this series of theological forays into the books of the Book of Mormon.
That's the main part of the review, but let me follow with a few additional notes on Nephi's design, the reading strategies Spencer uses (and doesn't use), the thing I love most about the book (how considerate it is), and some closing critique and hope for the future of the series.
"A TIGHT, DELIBERATE STRUCTURE"
Aside from learning that I don't know how to read, the other main takeaway is that First Nephi is a very designed book. First Nephi has "a tight, deliberate structure," with "a theological center of gravity." The larger outline of the book, the original divisions, the "central story" of each chapter, and word choice all cascade and run together to make some larger observations about God and His covenant. Yes, Spencer acknowledges that "First Nephi is less a report about a family’s difficult experiences than an explanation, historical and theological, for intertribal conflict between Nephites and Lamanites." This has been stated many times before, in many different ways. Spencer creates an outline, however, that centers First Nephi on the scriptural traditions Lehi's family receives from the plates, and on their own visionary encounters with God. These two strands–ancient scripture and modern (for them) revelation–combine into an impactful message centered around God's plan to redeem the Lehites. If you understand that, everything–Lehi's dream, Nephi's vision, Isaiah, and much else besides–falls into place.
It's terrific stuff. My favorite part was early on in the book: I was reading about Lehi's dream, and realizing (as Spencer argues) that it's not really about the individual believers journey to Christ–though we can read it that way. It's about Lehi's sons. The vision is framed by Lehi expressing concern for Laman and Lemuel, and everything in the dream shifts dramatically after Laman and Lemuel reject the fruit–a moment that also comes at the center of the vision. In the context of what I was reading, this–and his exposition of Nephi's vision in 1 Nephi 11-14–hit me like a ton of bricks. Far from making the story less personal, it reminded me that the God I worship is over history. (And at a time like this, with the Coronavirus everywhere in the news, that's a comforting thought.)
READING STRATEGIES
One thing that intrigued me was Spencer's reading strategy. How does he approach scripture? What assumptions does he make, and what methods does he follow?
The main thing he wants me to know is this: "the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing." Said another way, don't miss or forget the "big picture" that makes up the larger book of First Nephi. As he says at the outset of the first chapter:
We’re always missing the big picture because we get stuck on the details. One little aspect of a situation stands out to us for whatever reason, and we end up missing everything else. It’s like becoming obsessed with just one scene in a movie and never really getting the point of the whole film. It’s not that there isn’t anything genuinely interesting about what draws our attention. It’s usually quite meaningful, in fact. But we’re always missing the bigger picture. And our experience of the world is poorer for it . . .
The same chapter closes, in part, with these lines–forming a kind of inclusio of his own:
We read a little every day, mostly looking for something to touch us, to speak to our everyday life in a way that will help us press on as disciples of Jesus Christ. And there’s of course nothing wrong with that. But if it’s all we do with scripture, we’re likely to find that we’ve silenced the voices of the prophets… we’re to weave the scriptures we carry with us into the words we hear from living, breathing prophets in our own day. Only then can we see the biggest picture of all concerning what God’s doing in the world.
Spencer's point comes from a conviction similar to the folks who make the Bible Project videos: each book or section of scripture is a literary whole, and should be treated as such. Rather than being obsessed with one scene, we should ask: what's the larger point of the book? (For other examples of book-by-book analysis, see the Bible Project's videos on Samuel and Matthew.)
In addition to emphasizing the big picture, Spencer also talks a lot about words. He discusses the difference between "command" and "constrain"; he notes the different places "Lamb of God," "Messiah," and "Christ" all appear; he looks at the distinction between "Holy Ghost" and "the Spirit"; and in all these moments, makes meaning out of it. This assumes a very precise, "tight" translation of the Book of Mormon, instead of a loose translation, i.e. Joseph receiving the words and clothing them in words he himself understood. Is this an accurate assumption? I don't know. But Spencer draws pages of meaning from where and when these words appear in Nephi's book, and in a way that coheres with Nephi's message.
In summary, he asks questions like these:
Structure. Can we take the structure seriously? (For example, is there evidence it was designed, and not just random?) Assuming we can, what are the contours and elements of that structure? What are the author's original divisions? Are there editorial hints or transitions that suggest how to group these divisions? Are there "central stories" within each division? And what can all this tell us about the book's theological concerns and the author's intent?
Textual Details. Assuming that earlier manuscript changes have priority, what can we learn from the Original and Printer's manuscripts? When it comes to specific words, titles, and names, what is this word’s count and frequency? More, what is the word’s distribution and sequence, and what can that tell us?
Drawing Conclusions. With this close reading and context in mind, what can we learn and draw from this scripture?
These are good questions. For a comprehensive look at First Nephi, they are not entirely sufficient–there are historical approaches that Spencer could have used. There is very little doctrinal connection here; there is not much effort to look outside of the text at historical facts. There are no deep dives into Lehi's encounter with God as a model of theophany, or whether or not the family left Jerusalem in the midst of a passover. (A good example of a counter-approach is Brant Gardner's Second Witness: Analytical and Contextual Commentary on the Book of Mormon, which is analytic and attempts to be comprehensive.) But while Spencer's commentary misses on the analysis, it functions brilliantly on the level of synthesis. Much as I love these other commentaries, none of them left with as clear and compelling a picture of the overall message of the book as Spencer's.
Which brings me to my last point.
BEING CONSIDERATE, AND PASTORAL CARE
The final thing I want to note about this remarkable book is something I find endearing: Spencer's determination to make his work readable and relevant to readers like you and I. He does this in three key ways:
First of all, as a good writer, he's ridiculously thoughtful. He's great at providing check-ins throughout each chapter: zooming in, then zooming out, then zooming in again, then zooming out, then zooming in yet again and zooming out yet again, all to make sure I never lose sight of the picture. I've seen it in his other works, too, and it's very considerate. This is not a trait shared by all writers, and certainly not by all scriptural commentaries, which can seem like a string of miscellaneous insights without much to draw them into a complete whole.
Secondly, Spencer spends the second half of the book addressing modern concerns: the murder of Laban, Nephi's treatment of Laman of Lemuel, and women (or the lack thereof) in Nephi's writings–all questions he's been asked by his students at BYU and elsewhere. He offers rich and creative answers to these questions, but not until after we are oriented to what Nephi wanted us to know. That's a price I was happy to pay, and I really liked his answers to these questions, though I won't explore them here.
Thirdly, he has pastoral as well as academic ambitions. These are not cool scriptural nuggets that have nothing to do with our lived-out lives. No. Each chapter ends with a mini-sermon (each set after a lovely Brian Kershisnik woodcut): a takeaway that suggests how we might better relate to each other, to modern prophets, and to the world. Some examples:
Chapter 1 ends with a call to weave together the voices of ancient prophets with the voice of modern ones.
Chapter 2 ends with a missionary call, drawing insight and renewed Abrahamic purpose from Nephi's vision.
Chapter 4 ends with a call to live together in love, drawing this from the story of Laban.
The other chapters have similar conclusions, but they're all about how to live as a church and community. And so Spencer sets an example both of how to dig deep into ancient scripture, and how to draw out, from these insights, spiritually powerful and intellectually rich spurs to action.
CRITIQUE AND CONCLUSION
This book is not perfect, and heaven knows there may be flaws. (I suspect Spencer would admit as much.) Some minor quibbles:
Spencer has a habit of hanging a lot of meaning on specific words, like pronouns (i.e. his chapter on women) or phrases (i.e. the "more sacred part" he discusses in The Vision of All: Twenty-five Lectures on Isaiah in Nephi’s Record). I am not certain that the Book of Mormon translation is precise enough to bear that load–see comments on this blog post for an example of this discussion–or that Nephi intended us to read this much onto these phrases.
The analysis does not take into account other forms of critique or analysis, such as other forms of literary analysis (i.e. Grant Hardy) or historical and cultural analysis (i.e. Brant Gardner). As scholarship progress, I hope to see a theological synthesis like Spencer's integrated into a more holistic synthesis that looks at all of these considerations, and circumscribes all these perspectives into one great whole.
Spencer leaves some arguments unpacked that should be whole books, like his take on the Great Apostasy described in Nephi's vision. I have lots of questions about that.
For these and other reasons, I look forward to other scholars engaging with the variety of readings and interpretations that Spencer offers. But these are minor quibbles. The book accomplishes what Spencer hoped to accomplish, which is to show how much we miss of a theological nature.
I hope Spencer's book is widely read. It's a powerful, compelling, and rich introduction to the book I thought I knew. It's a model of clear, lucid writing. It invites every reader to consider how Nephi's perspective should shape our personal and collective ministry. And it sets a high bar for what promises to be a very interesting series.
This review is cross-posted from my blog, Stagger Onwared Rejoicing.
February 8, 2020
This is a must-read for any and all people interested in engaging with THE BOOK OF MORMON theologically. Spencer provides some of the best close reading and critical engagement with the scriptural text that I've ever read or otherwise encountered. His reading is faithful and provocative in the best possible ways. Spencer takes the text seriously, believing (rightly, I think) that it can withstand close scrutiny and that when read closely, truths will be illuminated that challenge us to be better readers, thinkers, and ultimately, disciples of Christ.
Cannot wait for everyone to get their hands on this, nor can I wait for the other volumes in this series.
Cannot wait for everyone to get their hands on this, nor can I wait for the other volumes in this series.
March 19, 2020
This is the first book in what looks to be a promising series from BYU’s Maxwell Institute for Religious Studies.
I had my first taste of the quality of Joseph Spencer’s writing when I read “Christ and Anti-Christ: Reading Jacob 7” last fall, which he co-edited with Adam Miller. Then in December 2019 an he was interviewed on the Maxwell Institute Podcast - this was the first I heard about the “Brief Theological Introductions” series, and my curiosity was piqued.
I cannot overstate how satisfying a read this was. Spencer has clearly spent years honing his skills as a theologian in preparation for writing this text, much to our benefit. I will never be able to read 1st Nephi again without drawing on the expanded vision he’s given me. The exploration of Nephi’s probable intent in authoring that book as a stand-alone work (as opposed to combining it with 2nd Nephi); how Nephi’s advanced age at the time of writing informs many of his storytelling choices; the remarkably well thought out structure of 1st Nephi, when analyzed through the lens of the original 7 long chapters. All these aspects of the text are winners.
In the second half of the Book, Spencer confronts three questions that trouble honest readers: Nephi’s slaying of Laban; Nephi’s relationship with Laman and Lemuel; and the intergenerational misogyny of Nephite society. He doesn’t try to explain these away or justify them. With the love and unrelenting inquisitiveness of a disciple-scholar, Spencer links together parts of the narrative which previously seemed unrelated, showing us a dazzling bigger picture. The final passages of these chapters a truly beautiful. Gone is the Frieberg-ian, epic embodiment of perfect obedience that I idolized in my youth. In his place now is a relatable human, one who took huge risks, won, lost, learned, capable of self critique, still loves his estranged brothers.
After I finished earlier this morning, I couldn’t stop thinking about what I had just read. While cooking dinner, shaving, or running some errands, the ideas kept coming back to me. I’ll probably share what I’ve read with others for the foreseeable future.
If the rest of the series is anywhere near as good as this, then sign me up.
I had my first taste of the quality of Joseph Spencer’s writing when I read “Christ and Anti-Christ: Reading Jacob 7” last fall, which he co-edited with Adam Miller. Then in December 2019 an he was interviewed on the Maxwell Institute Podcast - this was the first I heard about the “Brief Theological Introductions” series, and my curiosity was piqued.
I cannot overstate how satisfying a read this was. Spencer has clearly spent years honing his skills as a theologian in preparation for writing this text, much to our benefit. I will never be able to read 1st Nephi again without drawing on the expanded vision he’s given me. The exploration of Nephi’s probable intent in authoring that book as a stand-alone work (as opposed to combining it with 2nd Nephi); how Nephi’s advanced age at the time of writing informs many of his storytelling choices; the remarkably well thought out structure of 1st Nephi, when analyzed through the lens of the original 7 long chapters. All these aspects of the text are winners.
In the second half of the Book, Spencer confronts three questions that trouble honest readers: Nephi’s slaying of Laban; Nephi’s relationship with Laman and Lemuel; and the intergenerational misogyny of Nephite society. He doesn’t try to explain these away or justify them. With the love and unrelenting inquisitiveness of a disciple-scholar, Spencer links together parts of the narrative which previously seemed unrelated, showing us a dazzling bigger picture. The final passages of these chapters a truly beautiful. Gone is the Frieberg-ian, epic embodiment of perfect obedience that I idolized in my youth. In his place now is a relatable human, one who took huge risks, won, lost, learned, capable of self critique, still loves his estranged brothers.
After I finished earlier this morning, I couldn’t stop thinking about what I had just read. While cooking dinner, shaving, or running some errands, the ideas kept coming back to me. I’ll probably share what I’ve read with others for the foreseeable future.
If the rest of the series is anywhere near as good as this, then sign me up.
January 13, 2023
Perhaps it is because I’m rather simple when it comes to scripture, but I have to give this five stars because the insights blew my mind. My approach is to read each one of these (one for each book in The Book of Mormon) and highlight alongside lots of notes. I’ll then go back and read the actual book of scripture and make notes there. I finished this tonight and then read 1 Nephi 1 and was already scribbling furiously in my Book of Mormon with an entirely new perspective on what it all means. At this rate it will be next year before I get to 2 Nephi 😂, but it will have been well worth it.
April 14, 2020
I learned a lot from this book, which considers 1st Nephi as a whole, rather than focusing on individual chapters or verses. The book.gave me many insights and a new perspective on a text I have read many times.
February 6, 2024
As a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I have read the Book of Mormon numerous times and 1 Nephi in particular even more often. Despite having a pretty strong academic background, I have not often engaged with analytical or scholarly works regarding the scriptures outside of the religion classes I took at BYU. However, I’ve found that, as a Sunday School teacher this year with the Book of Mormon as our curriculum, that I have a greater desire to dive deep into these words of God with thoughtful scholarship as a help.
Spencer’s prose is extremely accessible, and the structure and purpose of his introduction to 1 Nephi is clear from the beginning, helping readers to follow his train of thought throughout. I also found what he chose to focus on to be extremely timely, namely an overview and analysis of Nephi’s purposes in writing his words, and a look at a few of the trouble spots readers encounter in 1 Nephi, such as the killing of Laban, the vilification of Laman and Lemuel, and the absence of women’s voices. I found them timely perhaps because these are topics I have also reflected on as I have continued to engage with the text over my life. As an adult it’s easier for me to identify with the reluctant but repentant elder sons of Lehi rather than the young and zealous Nephi, and while a hero slaying a villain feels “right” to a young mind, the killing of Laban feels deeply uncomfortable to me as an adult.
What I appreciated most about Spencer’s ideas was his characterization of Nephi based on his close reading of the text. Instead of a man who can come off as self-righteous and self-important, and is blind to the struggles of faith around him, Nephi emerges as a man who is acutely aware of his shortcomings as a brother and a leader, and structures his book with 30-odd years of hindsight to show where he fell short, and how his ambition to fulfill commandments and receive promised blessings led him to act recklessly and unnecessarily antagonize his brothers. Spencer’s biggest takeaway, though, is that Nephi’s humanity is a demonstration of how prophets are no different than other people, fallible and slow to change—but that he is remarkably humble in presenting this relatively unvarnished look at his life to us.
So much food for thought, and excellent fodder for Sunday School and family discussions. I’ve hardly done it justice. I’m looking forward to reading the other books in this series over the course of this year!
Spencer’s prose is extremely accessible, and the structure and purpose of his introduction to 1 Nephi is clear from the beginning, helping readers to follow his train of thought throughout. I also found what he chose to focus on to be extremely timely, namely an overview and analysis of Nephi’s purposes in writing his words, and a look at a few of the trouble spots readers encounter in 1 Nephi, such as the killing of Laban, the vilification of Laman and Lemuel, and the absence of women’s voices. I found them timely perhaps because these are topics I have also reflected on as I have continued to engage with the text over my life. As an adult it’s easier for me to identify with the reluctant but repentant elder sons of Lehi rather than the young and zealous Nephi, and while a hero slaying a villain feels “right” to a young mind, the killing of Laban feels deeply uncomfortable to me as an adult.
What I appreciated most about Spencer’s ideas was his characterization of Nephi based on his close reading of the text. Instead of a man who can come off as self-righteous and self-important, and is blind to the struggles of faith around him, Nephi emerges as a man who is acutely aware of his shortcomings as a brother and a leader, and structures his book with 30-odd years of hindsight to show where he fell short, and how his ambition to fulfill commandments and receive promised blessings led him to act recklessly and unnecessarily antagonize his brothers. Spencer’s biggest takeaway, though, is that Nephi’s humanity is a demonstration of how prophets are no different than other people, fallible and slow to change—but that he is remarkably humble in presenting this relatively unvarnished look at his life to us.
So much food for thought, and excellent fodder for Sunday School and family discussions. I’ve hardly done it justice. I’m looking forward to reading the other books in this series over the course of this year!
Read
December 15, 2023(Waiting to rate until after I finish the series)
September 26, 2023
A slow burn that really took some time but it opened up a lot of things to think about regarding a text I’ve read many many times
March 12, 2020
The cover deserves 90 stars. The content was excellent (this is the first time I've ever read one of Spencer's writings where I didnt have to map out his argument and reread it multiple times). There were some nice insights. There were other arguments he just left hanging, almost as if the project was slightly rushed. There were other arguments that seemed forced amd did not have much teeth to them. But overall, it will help you appreciate 1st nephi, and it adds much more complexity and reality to a beloved book.
February 28, 2023
3.5 stars
really fascinating and mind-churning—so much here that i’ve never really thought about. the writing was denser than i prefer, but still accessible.
really fascinating and mind-churning—so much here that i’ve never really thought about. the writing was denser than i prefer, but still accessible.
February 2, 2024
Having read the book of 1 Nephi so many times I wondered what this little book could add. It ended up being quite a revelatory reading for me - asking and answering questions that I’d never considered before. Wonderful insights gained.
February 20, 2024
Second read
What a thoughtful book. I find that the insights for 1 Nephi have been especially sharpened by reading Grant Hardy’s “Annotated Book of Mormon” edition. I think that I finally understood what Joseph Spencer intended to say about the structure of 1 Nephi: that Nephi is situating himself as a prophet in concert with Isaiah, and using stories and scripture to further explain and solidify those prophecies (ie, Nephi and Isaiah prophecies explaining and legitimizing one another).
Spencer’s chapter on Laman & Lemuel was particularly revelatory this time around. Yes, Laman and Lemuel were good, observant, 6th-century Jews — and that they weren’t doing anything wrong in waiting for a prophet to come and tell them what was required of them, as opposed to Nephi’s curiosity that drives him to ask, seek, and know the things his father Lehi knows. I was reminded of Spencer’s argument that how Nephi matures as a prophet, and I see it more now. I think I wasn’t as impressed with his argument around the women chapters this go-around.
But still, very fascinating and interesting (but I would recommend for readers who are already familiar with the BoM and 1 Nephi).
—————————
First read
What an interesting theological introduction. Although there were times when the analyses seemed thin and a little contrived, or the points so nuanced that they slipped away as easily as fish, or there was a close reading of a word that could just as easily have been a Joseph-Smith-translation choice, I think this represents a paradigm-shift for me regarding 1 Nephi. Which is just about as high praise as I can offer. Spencer taught me and changed my mind about a number of aspects of Nephi the prophet and Nephi the book of scripture.
It's short and eminently readable, with chapters that are 10-20 pages long. It reads almost like a pamphlet. It introduces new-to-me concepts thoughtfully and thoroughly, while offering comparisons and pointing and structures I hadn't ever bothered to search for in snippets of 10-verse or chapter-long reading sessions. (I think he also makes good-natured fun of those of us who do that. And I'm grateful Spencer did this work; it's refreshing.) I wish that there were more footnotes. What was there was good, but I want to be flooded with notes and glosses, with commentaries on what other scholars have thought, and what Spencer thinks of them. And though the orange-colored glosses were fun, they needed to be 1) darker, and 2) more of them.
I didn't know about the original structure of Nephi's record (3 chapters instead of the two dozen or so modern editors have applied), and Spencer's claims about "God prioritizing the promises to all" over the personal promises to Nephi. It helped me see that there was more to Nephi as he grew up and matured into prophethood (because I read him as super self-righteous and kinda roll my eyes at him). Ah, the nuance strikes true this time.
Additionally, it introduced another way to think of the part where Nephi kills Laban, as the religious superseding the ethical in a similar way that the ethical can supersede the legal (I'm sure any non-religious folks reading that will roll their eyes at me now). Indeed, it helps me in a small way come to terms with the idea that God is responsible for the genocide of nearly two continents' worth of people (seeing as it's generally accepted that Nephi saw Christopher Columbus, who initiated a permanent link between N/S America and Europe/Africa/Asia), and that there is divine purpose in that.
I was most excited for the final chapter on women; I'd listened to a presentation he'd given that was essentially that chapter (https://youtu.be/eUm7Yk0DNkQ). I found the actual remarks informative but tenuous, particularly in regard to Ishmael's daughters. But, I'm still glad I read it and am glad for the further reading. So, if you're short on time or can't get a copy of the book but nonetheless interested, listen to the presentation.
I like what Spencer says about being interested in "What God is doing in history."
—————
What a thoughtful book. I find that the insights for 1 Nephi have been especially sharpened by reading Grant Hardy’s “Annotated Book of Mormon” edition. I think that I finally understood what Joseph Spencer intended to say about the structure of 1 Nephi: that Nephi is situating himself as a prophet in concert with Isaiah, and using stories and scripture to further explain and solidify those prophecies (ie, Nephi and Isaiah prophecies explaining and legitimizing one another).
Spencer’s chapter on Laman & Lemuel was particularly revelatory this time around. Yes, Laman and Lemuel were good, observant, 6th-century Jews — and that they weren’t doing anything wrong in waiting for a prophet to come and tell them what was required of them, as opposed to Nephi’s curiosity that drives him to ask, seek, and know the things his father Lehi knows. I was reminded of Spencer’s argument that how Nephi matures as a prophet, and I see it more now. I think I wasn’t as impressed with his argument around the women chapters this go-around.
But still, very fascinating and interesting (but I would recommend for readers who are already familiar with the BoM and 1 Nephi).
—————————
First read
What an interesting theological introduction. Although there were times when the analyses seemed thin and a little contrived, or the points so nuanced that they slipped away as easily as fish, or there was a close reading of a word that could just as easily have been a Joseph-Smith-translation choice, I think this represents a paradigm-shift for me regarding 1 Nephi. Which is just about as high praise as I can offer. Spencer taught me and changed my mind about a number of aspects of Nephi the prophet and Nephi the book of scripture.
It's short and eminently readable, with chapters that are 10-20 pages long. It reads almost like a pamphlet. It introduces new-to-me concepts thoughtfully and thoroughly, while offering comparisons and pointing and structures I hadn't ever bothered to search for in snippets of 10-verse or chapter-long reading sessions. (I think he also makes good-natured fun of those of us who do that. And I'm grateful Spencer did this work; it's refreshing.) I wish that there were more footnotes. What was there was good, but I want to be flooded with notes and glosses, with commentaries on what other scholars have thought, and what Spencer thinks of them. And though the orange-colored glosses were fun, they needed to be 1) darker, and 2) more of them.
I didn't know about the original structure of Nephi's record (3 chapters instead of the two dozen or so modern editors have applied), and Spencer's claims about "God prioritizing the promises to all" over the personal promises to Nephi. It helped me see that there was more to Nephi as he grew up and matured into prophethood (because I read him as super self-righteous and kinda roll my eyes at him). Ah, the nuance strikes true this time.
Additionally, it introduced another way to think of the part where Nephi kills Laban, as the religious superseding the ethical in a similar way that the ethical can supersede the legal (I'm sure any non-religious folks reading that will roll their eyes at me now). Indeed, it helps me in a small way come to terms with the idea that God is responsible for the genocide of nearly two continents' worth of people (seeing as it's generally accepted that Nephi saw Christopher Columbus, who initiated a permanent link between N/S America and Europe/Africa/Asia), and that there is divine purpose in that.
I was most excited for the final chapter on women; I'd listened to a presentation he'd given that was essentially that chapter (https://youtu.be/eUm7Yk0DNkQ). I found the actual remarks informative but tenuous, particularly in regard to Ishmael's daughters. But, I'm still glad I read it and am glad for the further reading. So, if you're short on time or can't get a copy of the book but nonetheless interested, listen to the presentation.
I like what Spencer says about being interested in "What God is doing in history."
—————
May 27, 2021
Writing about the most well read book in the Book of Mormon must of been a challenge. This book was somewhat interesting and well written, but it didn’t feel completely necessary. It didn’t add a whole lot to my understanding of the scriptures nor did it feel particularly spiritually enlightening. I preferred Part 1 over Part 2. Sometimes, though, the book felt needlessly convoluted and almost apologetic. Too often I think we want to lean on “the experts” to tell us how to think about things like Nephi killing Laban or to explain the lack a female representation in the Book of Mormon, but they just can’t compare to the Spirit as teacher. Joseph Spencer describes well the tempting inclination towards intellectualism over the spiritual when assessing the Laban dilemma, saying, “God demands of Nephi something shocking to our ethical sensibilities- sensibilities Nephi shares- because it might help him and us to smash the rational and ethical idols we’re tempted to place before the God of faith and obedience. (Pg 71)” To me this quote explains exactly why the theological questions in this book are somewhat redundant. I think we can get more out of 1 Nephi by spending more time in 1 Nephi becoming our own scholars of scripture. That being said I do still see value in reading about what others have learned through their own studies. It’s just that reading them often feels like sifting through a lot of sand to find a few flakes of gold. I am intrigued by this series, though, and am interested in what the various other authors/scholars will contribute. Perhaps, reading about a book not as familiar as 1 Nephi will have more to offer me personally.
February 4, 2024
Mission accomplished, Maxwell Institute. Hard and interesting questions explored in scholarly way from a believer’s perspective. Lots of new ways to think about this familiar and foundational text (1 nephi), a book that is so formative in the theology and worldview of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Looking forward to future installments in the series.
In my January 2024 reading, I note especially the interesting treatment of the Laban story (Spencer makes many interesting points but ultimately isn’t able to deliver a fully satisfying explanation) and then a great chapter on the treatment of women in the Book of Mormon.
I found a phrase in his concluding paragraphs resonated deeply with me. He notes that Nephi’s writings “have come to me from above, like a heavenly record. They’re a grace, over and over a grace.”
Looking forward to future installments in the series.
In my January 2024 reading, I note especially the interesting treatment of the Laban story (Spencer makes many interesting points but ultimately isn’t able to deliver a fully satisfying explanation) and then a great chapter on the treatment of women in the Book of Mormon.
I found a phrase in his concluding paragraphs resonated deeply with me. He notes that Nephi’s writings “have come to me from above, like a heavenly record. They’re a grace, over and over a grace.”
March 21, 2020
Spencer is one of the best thinkers working on Mormon scripture today, and his years of preparation and dedication shine in this perfect jewel of a book. Inviting and accessible, yet simultaneously thought provoking, this book will change how you think about Nephi and the Book of Mormon. Highly recommended to anyone interested in Mormon scripture—this is a definite must read!
January 30, 2023
This was an incredibly enjoyable book. The author notes that 1 Nephi is the section of the Book of Mormon that is most familiar to readers because that's where people start and 2 Nephi may be where they discontinue, only to start again from 1 Nephi when they try again. Yet because it's so familiar, people tend to overlook it.
As a missionary in Japan with a literary Japanese translation of the Book of Mormon in grammar and vocabulary hard for native speakers to grasp, I was taught that all that a potential convert needed to know was in the first 17 chapters of the Book of Mormon - all in 1 Nephi. So I've paid a lot closer attention to 1 Nephi, and I think I've appreciated it more than the average reader. But I've mostly found nuggets. Spencer showed me a different way to look at 1 Nephi.
He starts with a broad overview of the themes and construction of the book, to help understand really what the main messages are that are being conveyed. This first chapter really grabbed me, since I've never looked at 1 Nephi that way before and it opened up a whole new way to understand and appreciate it.
Later chapters deal with the Abrahamic covenant, the nature of God, the death of Laban, Laman and Lemuel, and women in the Book of Mormon. All were enlightening in their own way, although I'd say the last chapter was probably the weakest. Not surprising since there's not much to go on in the text, but Spencer does take a good whack at it.
I think what I've really gotten from this is a new appreciation of Nephi himself. To be honest, I've never really liked him as a person. As a prophet, he's amazing, but he sure seemed full of himself. I read those unflattering things as stuff that he didn't even notice he was putting in the text that betrayed his true character. But Spencer argues that while Nephi doesn't draw attention to the fact that they are failings, he also doesn't hide them at all from the reader. And his later writings, if paid attention, could be interpreted to show that he's learned from his mistakes and is trying to get his readers to notice them and similarly learn. It's an intriguing insight, and I'd much rather give Nephi the benefit of the doubt than judge him for all too human failings.
A fantastic book that I'd heartily recommend to anyone looking for deeper understanding of 1 Nephi. My thanks to my friend Ryan who gave this to me as a present. I hope that the 2 Nephi installment of the series is similarly engrossing.
As a missionary in Japan with a literary Japanese translation of the Book of Mormon in grammar and vocabulary hard for native speakers to grasp, I was taught that all that a potential convert needed to know was in the first 17 chapters of the Book of Mormon - all in 1 Nephi. So I've paid a lot closer attention to 1 Nephi, and I think I've appreciated it more than the average reader. But I've mostly found nuggets. Spencer showed me a different way to look at 1 Nephi.
He starts with a broad overview of the themes and construction of the book, to help understand really what the main messages are that are being conveyed. This first chapter really grabbed me, since I've never looked at 1 Nephi that way before and it opened up a whole new way to understand and appreciate it.
Later chapters deal with the Abrahamic covenant, the nature of God, the death of Laban, Laman and Lemuel, and women in the Book of Mormon. All were enlightening in their own way, although I'd say the last chapter was probably the weakest. Not surprising since there's not much to go on in the text, but Spencer does take a good whack at it.
I think what I've really gotten from this is a new appreciation of Nephi himself. To be honest, I've never really liked him as a person. As a prophet, he's amazing, but he sure seemed full of himself. I read those unflattering things as stuff that he didn't even notice he was putting in the text that betrayed his true character. But Spencer argues that while Nephi doesn't draw attention to the fact that they are failings, he also doesn't hide them at all from the reader. And his later writings, if paid attention, could be interpreted to show that he's learned from his mistakes and is trying to get his readers to notice them and similarly learn. It's an intriguing insight, and I'd much rather give Nephi the benefit of the doubt than judge him for all too human failings.
A fantastic book that I'd heartily recommend to anyone looking for deeper understanding of 1 Nephi. My thanks to my friend Ryan who gave this to me as a present. I hope that the 2 Nephi installment of the series is similarly engrossing.
June 23, 2020
Before reading this book, I had never thought deeply about gender relations in the Book of Mormon. I found Spencer's writing on this subject thought-provoking, as I detail below.
Joseph Spencer writes “the Book of Mormon feels less and less readable in the twenty-first century, that is, in a culture of progressive emancipation for women” (100). Those of us who, like me, grew up with the Book of Mormon, are accustomed to the diminished role of women within that text. However, it is easy to imagine that those who do not have this background find the diminished role of women in the Book of Mormon to be jarring.
Before reading Spencer’s book, I had never realized that Lehi received commandments about gender relations that were separate from the Law of Moses. In Jacob 2—the chapter where Jacob lambasts the men for, among other things, “committing whoredoms” (v 23) and having “many wives and concubines” (v 24)—Jacob references “commandments [that] were given to our father, Lehi” about gender relations (Jacob 2:34). Jacob again mentions these commandments about that were given to Lehi in Jacob 3:5.
Behold, the Lamanites your brethren, … are more righteous than you; for they have not forgotten the commandment of the Lord, which was given unto our father – that they should have save it were one wife, and concubines they should have none, and there should not be whoredoms committed among them.
It is mysterious that Nephi never mentions these commandments about chastity and gender relations from Lehi that meant so much to Jacob. Spencer (sort of) insinuates that Nephi may have contributed to a culture characterized by problematic gender relations. Maybe these commandments about gender relations were included in the lost 116 pages of the book of Lehi?
Jacob’s sermon on chastity includes the following warning:
For behold, I, the Lord, have seen the sorrow and heard the mourning of the daughters of my people in the land of Jerusalem, and in all the lands of my people, because of the wickedness and abominations of their husbands. And I will not suffer, saith the Lord of Hosts, that the cries of the
fair daughters of this people, which I have led out of the land of Jerusalem shall come up unto me against the men of my people, saith the Lord of Hosts. For they shall lead away captive the daughters of my people because of their tenderness, save I shall visit them with a sore curse, even unto destruction (Jacob 2:31 – 33).
Spencer comments on this prophecy of Jacob’s: “Jacob’s predictions come spectacularly, terribly true. Nephite men, unrepentant of their sins against women, grow worse as the Book of Mormon near its conclusion.” Here Spencer alludes to the most trigger-warning worthy verses of scripture, which appear in Moroni 9:9-10.
And notwithstanding this great abomination of the Lamanites, it doth not exceed that of our people in Moriantum. For behold, many of the daughters of the Lamanites have they taken prisoners; and after depriving them of that which was most dear and precious above all things, which is chastity and virtue—And after they had done this thing, they did murder them in a most cruel manner, torturing their bodies even unto death; and after they have done this, they devour their flesh like unto wild beasts, because of the hardness of their hearts; and they do it for a token of bravery.
It certainly seems that if one of the main messages of the Book of Mormon is that wicked gender relations lead to spiritual destruction, it should have been repeated more often or been stated more clearly. Jacob certainly sends a strong message about the need for righteous gender relations, but no other Book of Mormon prophet addresses the issue.
The famous author and anthropologist, Jared Diamond, discusses the decline of a variety of different civilizations in his book Collapse. He consistently refuses “single-cause explanations” of collapse. For example, Diamond refuses to place the blame of the Rwandan genocide solely on ethnic hatred or extreme levels of population density, instead saying that these were among the factors of the genocide rather than sole factors (328).
We may consider something similar about the spiritual collapse of the Book of Mormon: poor treatment of women was not the only reason why the Nephite civilization collectively lost their spiritual soul, but it contributed to their problem.
Spencer seems to suggest that the Nephite nation never internalized Jacob’s message about gender relations and the destruction of the Nephite nation is a fulfillment of Jacob’s prophetic warning in Jacob 2. In Jacob’s sermon, Jacob compares Nephite gender relations to Lamanite gender relations and says that Lamanites are in a better place than the Nephites spiritually because the Lamanites’ marriages are characterized by reciprocal love: “their husbands love their wives and their wives love their husbands” (vs 7).
Spencer sees within the Book of Mormon some evidence that Lamanite women enjoyed a more privileged position in society than Nephite women did. King Lamoni’s wife in Alma 19 is called a “queen” and she exercises some political power as evidenced by her sending for Ammon. Similarly, the queen of the Lamanites in Alma 47 gives and sends messages to Amalickiah and hears the testimony of witnesses. In contrast, no Nephite queens (or judges) are ever mentioned. No Nephite woman is ever named or ever has a speaking part in the Book of Mormon, while there are three Lamanite women that have speaking parts: King Lamoni’s wife, Abish, and the Queen of the Lamanites in Alma 47. One other Lamanite woman, Isabel, is identified by name (Alma 39:3).
What do we make of the fact that Nephite women appear in scripture far less often than Lamanite women, women in the New Testament, or women in the Old Testament?
The people of King Noah repeat the sins of the Nephites that Jacob preached against. King Noah and his priests practice polygamy, have concubines, and employ harlots (see Mosiah 11:4, 14). Later, King Noah literally commands his people (or at least his men) to abandon their wives and flee from the Lamanites. In the aftermath of that story, the priests of Noah kidnap Lamanite women. In Ammonihah, women were victims of targeted violence (Alma 14). Given where Nephite society ended up, it is reasonable to wonder if these sins that the people of Ammonihah, the people of King Noah, and the people during the time of Jacob had problems with were continuing problems in Nephite society and contributed to the demise (both spiritual and physical) of their civilization.
Joseph Spencer writes “the Book of Mormon feels less and less readable in the twenty-first century, that is, in a culture of progressive emancipation for women” (100). Those of us who, like me, grew up with the Book of Mormon, are accustomed to the diminished role of women within that text. However, it is easy to imagine that those who do not have this background find the diminished role of women in the Book of Mormon to be jarring.
Before reading Spencer’s book, I had never realized that Lehi received commandments about gender relations that were separate from the Law of Moses. In Jacob 2—the chapter where Jacob lambasts the men for, among other things, “committing whoredoms” (v 23) and having “many wives and concubines” (v 24)—Jacob references “commandments [that] were given to our father, Lehi” about gender relations (Jacob 2:34). Jacob again mentions these commandments about that were given to Lehi in Jacob 3:5.
Behold, the Lamanites your brethren, … are more righteous than you; for they have not forgotten the commandment of the Lord, which was given unto our father – that they should have save it were one wife, and concubines they should have none, and there should not be whoredoms committed among them.
It is mysterious that Nephi never mentions these commandments about chastity and gender relations from Lehi that meant so much to Jacob. Spencer (sort of) insinuates that Nephi may have contributed to a culture characterized by problematic gender relations. Maybe these commandments about gender relations were included in the lost 116 pages of the book of Lehi?
Jacob’s sermon on chastity includes the following warning:
For behold, I, the Lord, have seen the sorrow and heard the mourning of the daughters of my people in the land of Jerusalem, and in all the lands of my people, because of the wickedness and abominations of their husbands. And I will not suffer, saith the Lord of Hosts, that the cries of the
fair daughters of this people, which I have led out of the land of Jerusalem shall come up unto me against the men of my people, saith the Lord of Hosts. For they shall lead away captive the daughters of my people because of their tenderness, save I shall visit them with a sore curse, even unto destruction (Jacob 2:31 – 33).
Spencer comments on this prophecy of Jacob’s: “Jacob’s predictions come spectacularly, terribly true. Nephite men, unrepentant of their sins against women, grow worse as the Book of Mormon near its conclusion.” Here Spencer alludes to the most trigger-warning worthy verses of scripture, which appear in Moroni 9:9-10.
And notwithstanding this great abomination of the Lamanites, it doth not exceed that of our people in Moriantum. For behold, many of the daughters of the Lamanites have they taken prisoners; and after depriving them of that which was most dear and precious above all things, which is chastity and virtue—And after they had done this thing, they did murder them in a most cruel manner, torturing their bodies even unto death; and after they have done this, they devour their flesh like unto wild beasts, because of the hardness of their hearts; and they do it for a token of bravery.
It certainly seems that if one of the main messages of the Book of Mormon is that wicked gender relations lead to spiritual destruction, it should have been repeated more often or been stated more clearly. Jacob certainly sends a strong message about the need for righteous gender relations, but no other Book of Mormon prophet addresses the issue.
The famous author and anthropologist, Jared Diamond, discusses the decline of a variety of different civilizations in his book Collapse. He consistently refuses “single-cause explanations” of collapse. For example, Diamond refuses to place the blame of the Rwandan genocide solely on ethnic hatred or extreme levels of population density, instead saying that these were among the factors of the genocide rather than sole factors (328).
We may consider something similar about the spiritual collapse of the Book of Mormon: poor treatment of women was not the only reason why the Nephite civilization collectively lost their spiritual soul, but it contributed to their problem.
Spencer seems to suggest that the Nephite nation never internalized Jacob’s message about gender relations and the destruction of the Nephite nation is a fulfillment of Jacob’s prophetic warning in Jacob 2. In Jacob’s sermon, Jacob compares Nephite gender relations to Lamanite gender relations and says that Lamanites are in a better place than the Nephites spiritually because the Lamanites’ marriages are characterized by reciprocal love: “their husbands love their wives and their wives love their husbands” (vs 7).
Spencer sees within the Book of Mormon some evidence that Lamanite women enjoyed a more privileged position in society than Nephite women did. King Lamoni’s wife in Alma 19 is called a “queen” and she exercises some political power as evidenced by her sending for Ammon. Similarly, the queen of the Lamanites in Alma 47 gives and sends messages to Amalickiah and hears the testimony of witnesses. In contrast, no Nephite queens (or judges) are ever mentioned. No Nephite woman is ever named or ever has a speaking part in the Book of Mormon, while there are three Lamanite women that have speaking parts: King Lamoni’s wife, Abish, and the Queen of the Lamanites in Alma 47. One other Lamanite woman, Isabel, is identified by name (Alma 39:3).
What do we make of the fact that Nephite women appear in scripture far less often than Lamanite women, women in the New Testament, or women in the Old Testament?
The people of King Noah repeat the sins of the Nephites that Jacob preached against. King Noah and his priests practice polygamy, have concubines, and employ harlots (see Mosiah 11:4, 14). Later, King Noah literally commands his people (or at least his men) to abandon their wives and flee from the Lamanites. In the aftermath of that story, the priests of Noah kidnap Lamanite women. In Ammonihah, women were victims of targeted violence (Alma 14). Given where Nephite society ended up, it is reasonable to wonder if these sins that the people of Ammonihah, the people of King Noah, and the people during the time of Jacob had problems with were continuing problems in Nephite society and contributed to the demise (both spiritual and physical) of their civilization.
September 19, 2020
Joseph Spencer does a very creative job of discussing a book that we have read or begun reading dozens of times as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. So he asks us if we are bored with 1st Nephi, if we maybe ignore it and don't even use it properly and he likens it to the entry hall of a huge mansion and says that 1st Nephi is this entry hall into the Book of Mormon. I enjoyed that Spencer discussed and debated both sides of some issues in 1st Nephi. For instance he debates the circumstances around Nephi slaying Laban and he discusses the problem it causes for a people who believe murder is a sin. I disagree with Spencer on many of his surmisings and found that his differing opinion( about women in the book being ignored in the record, and about Laman and Lemuel) made the book all the more enjoyable because I argued with him as I read. It opened my mind to new thoughts about a book I have read many times. Spencer is a beautiful writer and his closing testimony of his love for Nephi is one of the most beautiful, touching and profound testimonials I've ever read. Right up there with the closing testimonies of general authorities in their general conference talks. Simply heartfelt and enfluencing. A Wonderful book that will inspire you to look deeper at 1st Nephi, and the rest of the books that follow.
February 23, 2022
Absolutely gorgeous. The perfect balance of scholarly and spiritual. This opened my eyes to new perspectives and renewed my love for this book of scripture. It’s short but stuffed and should be read carefully.
The last chapter, especially, which explores gender dynamics in Nephite vs Lamanite society meant a lot to me. Many readers do not make the connection between Nephite misogyny leading to the demise of their society (even though it’s RIGHT THERE), and I was so grateful for Spencer’s careful examination of the roots of that.
The conclusion had me bawling. Spencer’s love of his subject matter is so apparent. He is measured, kind, and humble, even in his genius. This was an absolute joy to read, and I would recommend it to any other Saint or student of The Book of Mormon.
The last chapter, especially, which explores gender dynamics in Nephite vs Lamanite society meant a lot to me. Many readers do not make the connection between Nephite misogyny leading to the demise of their society (even though it’s RIGHT THERE), and I was so grateful for Spencer’s careful examination of the roots of that.
The conclusion had me bawling. Spencer’s love of his subject matter is so apparent. He is measured, kind, and humble, even in his genius. This was an absolute joy to read, and I would recommend it to any other Saint or student of The Book of Mormon.
January 3, 2024
A great first entry into this series. Spencer has invited me to examine underlying themes running through 1st Nephi that not only permeate through the rest of the book, but make characters like Nephi, Laman, and Lemuel more accessible and relatable than ever before. I also appreciated his addressing of ethical dilemmas raised by the slaying of Laban, the treatment of Nephi's brothers in his narrative, and what the lack of female voices may indicate in regard to future Nephite and Lamanite gender dynamics within their given societies.
I can't wait to dive into the next book on 2nd Nephi, which just so happens to be authored by my favorite religious researcher, Terryl Givens!
I can't wait to dive into the next book on 2nd Nephi, which just so happens to be authored by my favorite religious researcher, Terryl Givens!
February 25, 2021
This book epitomizes good things come in small packages! A short read but power packed with all kinds of insight on the most read book in the Book of Mormon. I’ll never look at Laman & Lemuel the same after reading this. The insights into Nephi make him much more relatable & even more inspiring.
May 7, 2020
Great little analysis, with a lot to say that I had neither heard of not considered before. I'm excited to read this series.
January 7, 2021
Brief but thoughtful overview of what is likely the most commonly-read book in Mormon scripture -- 1st Nephi. Spencer does a nice job looking at the text from new perspectives and addresses some of the thornier issues raised in the book, particularly (1) why the protagonist Nephi is permitted to kill Laban, (2) how the "wicked" brothers Laman and Lemuel might not be the antagonists they initially appear to be, and (3) how Nephi's failure to give women more prominence in Nephite society might have been a primary factor in the eventual downfall of his people.
An excellent resource for anyone wanting to dig more deeply into a well-known, and oft-misunderstood, text.
5 out of 5 stars.
An excellent resource for anyone wanting to dig more deeply into a well-known, and oft-misunderstood, text.
5 out of 5 stars.
January 7, 2024
A fresh perspective on 1 Nephi. Very informative and causes me to be excited to reread the actual text. Thanks Joe!
November 11, 2024
This book gave me a lot to think about. It gave me a broader view of 1 Nephi in the Book of Mormon. I really enjoyed it.
January 30, 2022
This book expanded my thinking and helped me consider The Book of Mormon in new ways. This is one of those books that I'll look back on later and see it as a turning point in my life.
February 6, 2024
Definitely recommend
February 14, 2024
Loved it. Highly recommend. Spencer is such a careful reader and always teaches me something new. You know it's a good interpretive lens if you never noticed it before, but once it's pointed out you just can't unsee it!
April 5, 2024
Listened to the podcasts where these books were introduced a couple years back but kind of forgot about them afterwards. The set was selling at Costco where our parents live. My FIL was kind enough to buy them and send them down. Glad he did, so good! Excited to keep reading.
May 9, 2022
A nice little book to get one thinking about the structure and theology of 1 Nephi. I learned to read Nephi's account more like a historical primary source. It got me thinking more about the individual moral character of not just Nephi but also Laman & Lemuel. I thought the chapter on women was rather weak, but overall I would recommend this book to those seeking to deepen their reading of scripture.
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