Wandering or Direction
Laman and Lemuel said, "Wandering." Nephi said, "South-southeast." How do we see our lives?
At one point in Nephi's journey, Laman and Lemuel complained: "We have wandered in the wilderness for these many years" (1 Nephi 17:20).
There was no evidence to suggest they were wandering. Quite the opposite. All the evidence pointed to the fact that the Lord was guiding them towards the promised land. The two strongest points of evidence were these: (1) they had been consistently following a specific direction, and (2) they had experienced many miracles from the Lord.
1) A Clear Direction
Unless the group took the time to track their progress over time, they could not say with certainty that their course was anything more than aimless wandering. Similarly, without a long-term perspective, it is always easy to question the Lord’s guidance in our lives.
Nephi, on the other hand, knew they were not randomly wandering. He had kept track of their progress. He knew that they had started traveling south-southeast, and had then turned straight east (see 1 Nephi 16:13; 17:1). Does this sound like wandering?
Do we see the direction our lives have taken as somewhat haphazard, with the Lord helping us along the way? Or do we see the direction of our lives as being far more directed by God?
Here is a personal example. I always knew I wanted to be involved in my children's lives. However, I was single for a long time. But as soon as I was able to work from home, my wife and I met each other, and we started a family. Working from home helps me be more involved in their lives. Was this a random coincidence, or was the Lord guiding me?
2) Forgetting the Miracles
Throughout their journey, the group had experienced dozens of miracles to prove that the Lord was with them; the Liahona, the uncooked food, the Lord’s audible voice, a visible light at night, “and also many other miracles wrought by the power of God, day by day” (Alma 37:40). Yet somehow, Laman and Lemuel refused to see the Lord’s hand in these miracles.
Why is it so easy to remember our afflictions, but so difficult to remember the Lord’s miracles?
Laman and Lemuel Would Always Be Wandering
Even after eight years of precise navigational directions, Laman and Lemuel still said they were wandering. What evidence was there for such a claim? For anyone who had eyes to see, it was clear that the Lord was guiding them straight and true. But none of that mattered to Laman and Lemuel. They had not been able to stay in Jerusalem. Therefore, to them, they would always be wandering.
Laman and Lemuel did not see the vision. They said that Lehi had led them out of Jerusalem, not the Lord (see 1 Nephi 2:11; 17:20). They did not see the purpose of their journey. As a result, everything was more difficult for them.
On the other hand, Nephi used language like "the course of [our] travels" and "led with one accord" (1 Nephi intro; 10:13).
Here is a chart showing how different people in the group gained a vision of their purpose.
Person | Vision | Means | Level of Murmuring |
Nephi | Gained the vision early | Through prayer (see 1 Nephi 2:19–20) | Never murmured |
Sam | Gained the vision early | Through Nephi’s words and example | Never murmured |
Lehi | Gained the vision fairly early | Through reading the brass plates (see 1 Nephi 5:14–15; 10:12–13) | Murmured once after gaining the vision |
Sariah | Gained the vision fairly early | Through trial (see 1 Nephi 5:7–8) | Murmured once before gaining the vision |
Laman and Lemuel | Never fully gained the vision | Despite abundant prayer, study, example, and trial | Only had one period of life where they did not murmur |
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