Last Words

"Awake! and arise from the dust, and hear the words of a trembling parent, whose limbs ye must soon lay down in the cold and silent grave, from whence no traveler can return; a few more days and I go the way of all the earth." (2 Nephi 1:14)

This is Lehi talking to his sons.  He knows he's not long for this earth,  it is interesting to read the last words of a prophet to his children.  Someone who has so much insight into the mind and will of the Lord surely has some good advice.

"I desire that ye should remember to observe the statutes and the judgments of the Lord; behold, this hath been the anxiety of my soul from the beginning.

My heart hath been weighed down with sorrow from time to time, for I have feared, lest for the hardness of your hearts the Lord your God should come out in the fulness of his wrath upon you, that ye be cut off and destroyed forever;" (2 Nephi 1:16-17)

Is it really any surprise that he tells his children that he wants them to be righteous? It is something that as a parent, I am certain that had worried him his whole life. He was especially concerned when he had the vision of the tree of life, and some of his children wouldn't come and partake of the fruit. Here he uses phrases like "anxiety of my soul" and "weighed down with sorrow". He really felt strongly about this and has been trying to get his children to live the commandments,

"And now that my soul might have joy in you, and that my heart might leave this world with gladness because of you, that I might not be brought down with grief and sorrow to the grave, arise from the dust, my sons, and be men, and be determined in one mind and in one heart, united in all things..." (2 Nephi 1:21)

"Arise from the dust and be men".  That is a great quote.  It is such a good image of someone sitting/lying in the dust.  They rise up, brush off the dust, and face the world, Being a man is so much more than being a tough guy, or to be very strong or any of the things the world considers to be "manly" traits. It means so much more.  In fact, I think it often means being less of what the world looks to as the definition of a "man". More compassion and love.  More watchful care.  Less anger and violence. Less pride.  This is great advice to give to your children.

"Rebel no more against your brother, whose views have been glorious, and who hath kept the commandments from the time that we left Jerusalem; and who hath been an instrument in the hands of God, in bringing us forth into the land of promise;" (2 Nephi 1:24)

And finally, his thoughts turn to Nephi, who had been faithful and righteous through all their afflictions in the wilderness, even though nobody else did. Nephi had been treated very poorly throughout this journey, and here is another plea from an aging father for his children to get along.  I'm sure these are all things that fathers want from their children. I know I do.