Day 27 Laman's Projection: Accusations and Ambition

In Matthew 5:13, Jesus tells his followers that they are the salt of the earth, and in the same sentence offers a warning that savorless salt is good for nothing. Join me in an attempt to be savory salt as I share each day one verse of scripture and one small thought. Perhaps this small daily emphasis can lead to greater savor in your life and ultimately you and I can be savory salt.

Hello, my friends and family, wherever you're listening from. Thank you for joining me and know that I am cheering for your every success. Day 27 is upon us.

We are so close to doing this every day over a month. Well done. Today we dive into the second half of chapter 16.

So if you have joined me on the 365-day reading journey, today you will read 1st Nephi chapter 16, verses 20 through 39. Basically, just finish out the chapter here. I want to let you know that I did not choose verse 29, but if you want a little nod to keeping it small and keeping it simple, take a look at verse 29 and see what's happening inside of our story here.

But we're not going to do that one today, just a little Easter egg for you to check out. I have a thought on the front end of this, and then we get into the verse. This chapter shows us, perhaps more than—well, the whole story of Nephi shows us this pattern, but this chapter shows us the challenges that Nephi and his family experience.

And it kind of goes like this: It kind of goes, challenge, murmur, repent, blessed. Challenge, murmur, repent, blessed. That's kind of the process it goes through.

And I think you're going to see that inside of this chapter. And today's verse is an interesting one. We're going to switch from Nephi saying things.

We're going to switch over to Laman talking here. We're going to go into verse 38. Bit of a long one.

Hold with me for just a second as we read verse 38 and then a little short thought on the back end of it. Now he says—he's talking about Nephi here. Now he says that the Lord has talked with him, and also that angels have ministered unto him.

But behold, we know that he lies unto us, and he tells us these things, and he worketh many things by his cunning arts, that he may deceive our eyes, thinking perhaps that he may lead us away into some strange wilderness. And after he has led us away, he has thought to make himself a king and a ruler over us, that he may do with us according to his will and pleasure. And after this manner did my brother Laman stir up their hearts to anger.

You know, this one's such a telling verse. We don't get a lot of verses with Laman talking, right? We get a lot of verses with Laman beating up, but we don't get a lot of verses with Laman talking.

And I think it's really interesting here: Laman knows the things that he is saying are not true. He has seen the angels. Now, he hasn't been with Nephi in every experience with angels, but he's seen them.

He knows that the things that he's saying about Nephi are not true. And I think it's interesting sometimes when we have spiritual experiences, and then later it's so fascinating to me how we can end up doubting those experiences rather than leaning into those experiences and remembering them. I think one of the very things that Laman is fearing here is something that is his own character.

He's afraid of Nephi taking control and being king to do whatever they want, right? According to his will and pleasure, as he says there. And yet, Laman's entire will is to become king, to be able to take over the family and do according to his will and pleasure.

It's like he's using his own internal fears of others taking over to show the world that his insides are that I want to take over. I want to be the one in control. So interesting to look and see a little bit of the perspective that Laman has here.

I want to encourage you, if you felt the Holy Ghost, know that that's true. If you've had promptings from the Spirit, those are real. Those are true.

You have perhaps heard it or seen it in your mind's eye. Those spiritual experiences are real, and nothing anyone else can say should change your mind or your conviction that those are real experiences. This verse is certainly interesting.

Nephi doesn't fall for it, and several others in his family don't fall for it, but others are quickly buying into Laman's ideas, and they fall for it. How quickly sometimes we forget our own spiritual experiences when others are willing to stir the pot and push us into really questioning whether our spiritual experiences are real. Don't fall for it.

If you have felt the Spirit, it's real. If you haven't yet, continue on this journey with me. You will feel the Spirit and you will come to know that Jesus Christ is your Savior as you read the Book of Mormon, which testifies of Him.

That's all I have for today. Remember that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass. Keep it small, keep it simple, and always seek to be savory salt.

I'll be here tomorrow. I hope you are too.