What have Church leaders said about 1 Nephi 16-22?

This week’s “Come, Follow Me” study guide covers 1 Nephi 16-22, which incorporates the Liahona and Nephi constructing a ship.

Church News searched the archives of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to learn what leaders have said about these chapters.

1 Nephi 16

“As we study and ponder the needs of the Liahona and the principles by which it operated, I testify that we’ll receive inspiration suited to our individual and family circumstances and desires. We can and shall be blessed with ongoing direction from the Holy Ghost.

“The Liahona was prepared by the Lord and given to Lehi and his family after they left Jerusalem and were traveling within the wilderness. This compass or director pointed the best way that Lehi and his caravan should go (see 1 Nephi 16:10), even ‘a straight course to the promised land’ (Alma 37:44). The pointers within the Liahona operated ‘in accordance with the religion and diligence and heed’ (1 Nephi 16:28) of the travelers and did not work when relations were contentious, rude, slothful or forgetful (see 1 Nephi 18:12, 21).

“The compass also provided a method whereby Lehi and his family could obtain greater ‘understanding regarding the ways of the Lord’ (1 Nephi 16:29). Thus, the first purposes of the Liahona were to offer each direction and instruction during an extended and demanding journey. The director was a physical instrument that served as an outward indicator of their inner spiritual standing before God. It worked in accordance with the principles of religion and diligence.

“Just as Lehi was blessed in precedent days, each of us in today has been given a spiritual compass that may direct and instruct us during our mortal journey. The Holy Ghost was conferred upon you and me as we got here out of the world and into the Savior’s Church through baptism and confirmation. By the authority of the holy priesthood we were confirmed as members of the Church and admonished to search for the constant companionship of ‘the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, since it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you’” (John 14:17).

— Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, April 2006 general conference, “That We May Always Have His Spirit To Be With Us”

1 Nephi 17

“Lehi’s family endured an intense wilderness experience designed to show, test and sanctify them. Likewise, the trail from our former home to everlasting life runs all the way through this earthly wilderness, where we may expect similar challenges and difficulties. But in our journey we usually are not alone, for the Lord’s promise to Lehi is identical to us: ‘I’ll prepare the best way before you [and] inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall be led towards the promised land. … After ye have arrived … ye shall know that … I, the Lord, did deliver you’ (1 Nephi 17:13–14).

“The Lord knows the best way because He is the best way and is our only likelihood for successfully negotiating mortality. His Atonement makes available all of the facility, peace, light and strength that we’d like to cope with life’s challenges — those starting from our own mistakes and sins to trials over which we’ve no control but we still feel pain.”

— Sister Sheri L. Dew, then the second counselor within the Relief Society general presidency, April 1999 general conference, “Our Only Chance”

“In the Book of Mormon, the prophet Nephi tells his people why a lot of the youngsters of Israel perished within the wilderness after leaving Egypt. Because of their iniquity, the Lord ‘sent fiery flying serpents amongst them; and after they were bitten he prepared a way that they may be healed; and the labor which that they had to perform was to look; and due to the simpleness of the best way, or the easiness of it, there have been many who perished’ (1 Nephi 17:41).

“Brothers and sisters, we must not fail to do the straightforward and simple things that the gospel requires and thereby deny ourselves and our families the good blessings that the Lord has promised.”

— Elder Rex D. Pinegar, then a General Authority Seventy, October 1994 general conference, “The Simple Things”

“The Lord spoke to Nephi and said, ‘Arise, and get thee into the mountain’ (1 Nephi 17:7).

“Nephi obeyed the Lord; he went into the mountain and prayed. And the Lord commanded Nephi, ‘Thou shalt construct a ship, after the style which I shall show thee, that I’ll carry thy people across these waters’ (1 Nephi 17:8).

“Then Nephi asked the Lord, ‘Whither shall I am going that I’ll find ore to molten, that I’ll make tools to construct the ship after the style which thou hast shown unto me?’ (1 Nephi 17:9).

“The Lord instructed Nephi where he could find ore, but then Nephi was on his own. In 1 Nephi, chapter 17, we read:

“‘And it got here to pass that I, Nephi, did make a bellows wherewith to blow the hearth, of the skins of beasts; and after I had made a bellows, that I might need wherewith to blow the hearth, I did smite two stones together that I’d make fire (1 Nephi 17:11). …

“‘And it got here to pass that I did make tools of the ore which I did molten out of the rock’ (1 Nephi 17:16).

“This is certainly one of the more interesting stories we’ve within the scriptures since it tells of an instance during which the Lord provided help but then stepped aside to permit certainly one of His sons to exercise his own initiative. I even have sometimes wondered what would have happened if Nephi had asked the Lord for tools as an alternative of a spot to seek out the ore to make the tools. I doubt the Lord would have honored Nephi’s request. You see, the Lord knew that Nephi could make the tools, and it’s seldom the Lord will do something for us that we will do for ourselves.

“The Lord does help after we go to Him in times of need, especially after we are committed to His work and reply to His will. But the Lord only helps those that are willing to assist themselves. He expects His children to be self-reliant to the degree they could be.”

— Elder L. Tom Perry, then a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, October 1991 general conference, “Becoming Self-Reliant”

“As I [think about] Nephi constructing a ship, I can imagine what might need undergone his mind. ‘How can I do this? I don’t know anything about constructing a ship. I haven’t had any training!’ Instead, he faced his challenge with courage. He said:

“‘If God had commanded me to do all things I could do them. If he should command me that I should say unto this water, be thou earth, it ought to be earth; and if I should say it, it might be done.

“‘And now, if the Lord has such great power, and has wrought so many miracles amongst the youngsters of men, how is it that he cannot instruct me, that I should construct a ship?’ (1 Nephi 17:50–51)

“So Nephi built a ship.

“When tasks seem too great and even inconceivable, I feel of courageous Nephi by the water’s edge constructing a ship.”

— Sister Ruth B. Wright, then the second counselor within the Primary general presidency, October 1990 general conference, “Draw Strength From the Book of Mormon”

1 Nephi 18

“Challenges are different for every of us, however the source for help is identical. Let’s take a look at Nephi’s experience.

“He grew up in a desert. We don’t know if he had ever seen a ship before the Lord asked him to construct a ship — a seemingly insurmountable task! But Nephi had faith the Lord would help him. He said the Lord showed him ‘every now and then’ how he should construct it (1 Nephi 18:1). Nephi tells us he didn’t construct it like men construct ships. He built it ‘after the style’ the Lord showed him (1 Nephi 18:2). Then he tells us how.

“‘I did pray oft unto the Lord; wherefore the Lord showed unto me great things’ (1 Nephi 18:3).

“When you pray often and seek to know the Lord’s will like Nephi did, the Lord will show you the best way. But you may make certain when you find yourself trying your best to obey, you could face strong opposition from those wishing to discourage and dissuade you. Nephi’s dissenters were his own brothers. Think how hard that will be!

“At times you … may feel you might be having an experience like Nephi. The Lord has not asked you to construct a ship, but to construct your life. You don’t yet know what your accomplished mortal life looks like. But your Father in Heaven knows and might guide you one step at a time. He is asking you to construct your life in accordance with His guidelines because He is the One who created you and desires you able to return back home with Him someday.”

— Sister Sharon G. Larsen, then the second counselor within the Young Women general presidency, April 2001 general conference, “Your Celestial Guide”

1 Nephi 19

“A verse from the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ powerfully describes the Savior’s perfect love: ‘And the world, due to their iniquity, shall judge him to be a thing of naught; … they scourge him, … they smite him, … they spit upon him, and he suffereth it, due to his loving kindness and his long-suffering towards the youngsters of men’ (1 Nephi 19:9). The Savior’s universal love is the motivating force behind all that He does. We know that it is identical love our Father in Heaven has for us, since the Savior humbly taught that He and the Father ‘are one’ (see John 10:30; 17:20–23).”

— Elder Taniela B. Wakolo, General Authority Seventy, April 2021 general conference, “God Love His Children”

“The Savior is the best example of how we should always reply to potentially offensive events or situations.

“‘And the world, due to their iniquity, shall judge him to be a thing of naught; wherefore they scourge him, and he suffereth it; they usually smite him, and he suffereth it. Yea, they spit upon him, and he suffereth it, due to his loving kindness and his long-suffering towards the youngsters of men’ (1 Nephi 19:9).

“Through the strengthening power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, you and I could be blessed to avoid and overcome offense.”

— Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, October 2006 general conference, “And Nothing Shall Offend Them”

1 Nephi 20

“Most of us experience some measure of what the scriptures call ‘the furnace of affliction’ (1 Nephi 20:10). Some are submerged in service to a disadvantaged member of the family. Others suffer the death of a loved one or the loss or postponement of a righteous goal like marriage or childbearing. Still others struggle with personal impairments or with feelings of rejection, inadequacy or depression. Through the justice and mercy of a loving Father in Heaven, the refinement and sanctification possible through such experiences might help us achieve what God desires us to change into.”

— Then-Elder Dallin H. Oaks, now first counselor within the First Presidency, October 2000 general conference, “The Challenge To Become”

1 Nephi 22

“The chapter heading to 1 Nephi 22 reads partly, ‘Israel shall be scattered upon all of the face of the earth — The Gentiles will nurse and nourish Israel with the gospel within the last days.’ … With the Restoration and Book of Mormon, the concept of gathering Israel has greatly expanded.

“Those who accept the gospel of Jesus Christ, no matter lineage, change into a part of gathered Israel. With that gathering and the many temples built and announced, we’re in a novel position to collect Israel on each side of the veil as never before under the Father’s plan.”

— Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, April 2023 general conference, “Safely Gathered Home”