As I start to read the Book of Mormon, my mind takes me on detours - one which is the subject of this blog post. I hope that my detours don't make me fall short of my goal. :) We all know about Laman and Lemuel because they have "speaking parts", per se in the Book of Mormon. Just as Lehi, Sariah, and of course Nephi. But what about Nephi's other older brother, Sam? What can be learned from him?

Nephi, for a younger brother surely gets most of the attention for Nephi is an action man. Cases in point:
  • He knows that his father has been blessed by The Lord; that his father has had visions. Nephi desires to see those things and (here's the action part), goes and inquires of The Lord.
  • Nephi does not question his father when he is asked to go back into His homeland and get the plates from Laban. This is no small task! First of all, there is the actual journey back there. There is the plan on how to physically get the plates - by asking, by trying to buy them with all their riches they left behind before traveling into the wilderness, and finally just going in to Laban's house "...not knowing beforehand the things I should do". All to obey his father's command, who was commanded of The Lord to do.
  • The multiple threats of death from his older brothers; Laman and Lemuel. Being protected from harm by an angel as well as his sudden physical strength.
  • Constantly reminding his elder brothers of things which they had personally witnessed - an angel of The Lord visiting them, how they were saved from harm themselves - bringing them constantly into remembrance of the goodness of The Lord.
  • After being threatened several times, Nephi, the youngest "frankly forgave them" for their deeds of malice.
What do we know about Sam? We know that:
  • When Nephi told Sam about his vision, Sam believed him.
  • Sam apparantly got angry with Nephi as the scriptures say "they were wroth with their younger brother". We do not know if Sam was part of the death threats, but I would not think so since the scriptures state The Lord telling Nephi, "blessed art thou... And thy brother Sam..."
And that's about it (at least up to 1 Nephi 17). So, to my original question:

Are you a Nephi or Sam

Both were favored of The Lord. Nephi was definitely an action man, and Sam seems to be a passive follower. Nephi was pretty much a "I will go and do the things The Lord has commanded" person. Sam was (from what I can tell) a person who was a follower but could be swayed. He did his share of repenting along with his older brothers. The questions I ask myself are:
  • Am I totally committed to the gospel of Jesus Christ 100% of the time, 24/7, or do I falter from time to time and need chastisement from The Lord with repentance following?
  • Am I actively vocal about the gospel or am I passive because it may offend someone?
  • Can I forgive "frankly" those who have caused me grief?
  • Am I ready, even under extreme trials and circumstances to declare, as Job "I know that my Redeemer Liveth" or would I tend to be as Peter "...I know him not"?
I would venture to say that, for most of us, we possess both Nephi and Sam characteristics, but perhaps more leaning toward Sam. As we go through our earthly journey, we can learn from those "Sam-like" characteristics and gain those "Nephi-like" characteristerics. Which will help us to gain those characteristics of our elder brother, Jesus Christ.

Continue reading at the original source →