1 Nephi 1-5 Part 1 • Dr. John Hilton III • Jan 8 - Jan 14 • Come Follow Me

[@tinabrady7310]

After 48 years of being LDS i believed but had never had a witness. I was on my recumbent bike exercizing while listening to the book of mormon and i suddenly had a profound confirmation that this is a true book of canonized scripture. I relistened to the verse and the scripture said this book is true. It was too cool!

[@bonnielarsen7022]

Thank you for sharing such a special experience with us.

[@paulaburt1]

Yes!!!!! ❤

[@forulimu]

Awesome!

[@ThePsh07]

Bro. Hilton was the program director/leader over the whole thing(idk the official title) when I attended EFY Nauvoo around 15 years ago! He was a young fresh dad then with his wife & their new baby at the time. 😊 (I brought a camera & took loads of pictures, so I’m sure there’s a few of him in those. Fun to see him again on this podcast. The man has barely aged!

[@DannyAGray]

12:02 This is the first year that my wife and I are really putting serious effort into FHE & CFM. Our kids are teens now, and we pretty sad we've neglected it for this long. But as a truck driver (I drive nightly from SLC to Carlin, NV and back), I spend most of my drives listening to CFM podcasts, scriptures, and GenCon talks to prepare to teach my kids. That's exactly what I'm doing right now while watching this episode.

[@venusreyes3061]

I'm listening right now here in my room. So quiet at 4 am your voices refreshing my heart and my mind... from Philippines

[@ovelia636]

Me too, from New Zealand

[@jerrywolcott6159]

You mentioned possible tips for writing in a journal. I find it easy to write two emails to myself a day: one is a study note, usually directly from an annotation from the gospel app, then in the evening send an email to myself for my journal, including photos of the day if there are some. Then once a week, or so, I open the email and copy to my journal in a word document. I have found this an easy way to stay on track.

[@dandan007999]

I’ve read the Book of Mormon dozens of times, for some reason I am more excited to read it this year than ever before. Thank you for your time, effort and love in bringing forth these podcasts.

[@MamaJLW]

I agree wholeheartedly. I feel the Spirit whispering in a more excited tone this time around. It’s almost as if the Holy Ghost knows that we’re embarking on life changing adventures this year. The Book of Mormon has a unique ability to touch our hearts.

[@sstimson326]

Me too!

[@Alipotamus]

My first time listening . My son suggested this to help in my preparations for a Sacrament meeting talk. Thanks! I will follow your podcast this year.

[@fallautumnwahl]

What a tender mercy this podcast has been in my life these past few years! Thanks Hank and John! Listening from New Zealand.

[@kisserravnsrensen369]

I don’t spend one hour a year in a car. But I do the dishes by hand while listening. 😉😉🕊️❤️

[@kathrynquinn6889]

Something I have recently begun to understand is that God does indeed love me no matter what I do. His love is always there for me. I choose to abide in His love by trying to do what He asks me to do and by repenting, turning my heart back to Him, whenever I need to.

[@vickiecoles8214]

I currently have in my prayers to bring my boys back to the gospel. I’m well aware it may not be in this lifetime, but I trust in the Lord to answer a mothers’ prayer at some point in the eternities.

[@billiepardoe908]

Love these three men.

[@MamaJLW]

I chuckled at the experience Ben Sorenson shared at his father’s funeral. Of all the verses a person could shout, 3 Nephi 5:13 is possibly the best. I’m glad he inadvertently declared his lifelong mission in such a way. Keep on being a disciple of Jesus Christ Ben and all the rest of us. ❤

[@dorothyraigans5114]

You’ve mentioned Pres. Eyeing’s talk, I think about “Gratitude” and remembered that well and what he said about him keeping a gratitude journal. I kept one for about 2 months on and off, and completely fell off of it when life got busy. We moved and I don’t remember where I put it. Tonight, I love your idea of “Tender Mercies” journal and documenting a day of how one can see the Lord’s hand in one’s daily life. Thank you! I’m doing it. This is the first time listening to your podcast and loving it. About 8 or 9 years ago, I dedicated a little over a year in studying the BOM using a student manual, daily, sometimes until 1am. The best time to study when it’s peace and quiet. I about 37 at the time with 3 young children (my husband is not a member). I can testify how much I have learned in that year in understanding the gospel and especially the Savior. I was struggling a little with how I want to study the BOM this year and your ideas is what I needed to hear. I guess I was prompted 😊 to listen to your podcast because you are the 3rd to listen to. Love the catch phrases and the focus of the Savior. Now, I just need to choose one. Thank you!

[@skippymagrue]

Bro. Wright, our CES director in San Antonio, taught that when you remember something from your life, write down three words at the time that will remind you of it and then later, write down the whole thing.

[@johnhiltoniii]

The three word journal is an awesome idea!

[@dinocollins720]

Thank bro Hank, John, and John!!! Another fantastic lesson!

[@marybowen44]

The very first line of the Book of Mormon helped me when I realized i had 2 boys that were falling away. He tells us right up front how great his parents are He goes on the tell us about Lehi. Then he tells us about his brothers. As if to say… I had great parents don’t judge them because of the actions of my brothers. That really gave me hope but more importantly PEACE that I so desperately needed at that time. Thanks for your insights.

[@harmonywoodrome9911]

Thank you very much😍👏

[@beau4307]

God bless you for this podcast please keep up the good work as it has definitely made a difference in my spiritual journey. Thank you.

[@TheWhitmore6]

I was doing the BYUI Pathway program when it first came out and we were learning about Tender Mercies. I didn’t quite understand what that phrase meant. I prayed to know the meaning of the phrase. That week my 8th grade son went to his councilor at school and told her he wanted to harm himself. It hit me out of the blue. He spent the next week in a Juvenile mental health facility. So many people reached out to us and prayed for us. People in the right place at the right time to help and support us. I learned what the tender mercies of the Lord were and how to recognize them in my life.

[@pamhall3081]

Nice, slower speech, John Hilton III! The fast talking didn’t bother me, but I had noticed comments about it before. Good work! And, I still love your insights, with fast or slow speech. 😊

[@johnhiltoniii]

Thank you!

[@cjballard5599]

Our family used to listen to John Bytheway tapes while we were driving far distances. Teaching and entertaining.

[@robinruybal2948]

Some of us will also be studying who are married but with a non member spouse... so studying alone. I appreciate your effort to be inclusive. Not all members have spouses that are either members or active

[@mariahowatt5904]

One thing that has helped me keep a journal - I made a covenant with God that I would write at least one sentence every day if He would help remind me. (I didn't want to make a promise that I could noet keep. I knew that I could write at least one sentence every day.) Many times n the beginning- I would be woken up at 11:50 and I would remember to write. I was careful to heed the prompting. After 36 years of keeping a journal I have moved from writing out of duty to recording how God works in my life.

[@lorig2881]

Excellent! True Joseph Smith would only know rivers of water, but modern day people in Arizona could accurately say “river of water” or river with water because most of our rivers are dry and a few have water. The water is below the sand.

[@joshuajohnson8216]

Dr. Hilton’s picture makes me happy

[@johnhiltoniii]

ah, thank you! :)

[@jocelynn19871]

An insight I had about the discussion about tents… I was preparing a talk about the Book of Mormon and one thing that I noticed was this emphasis on dwelling in a tent. The significance of a tent has become apparent when the Israelites are wandering in the desert but they had the temple with them in a tent. The tent became a temple. That means to me we can take the temple metaphorically speaking where ever we go Also the tent acts as a protection from the elements and animals. We are asked to go out into the wilderness both literally and spiritually but the lord will be our protection, our tent our temple convents. The lord cannot take us out of the wilderness until we have reached a designated place but he can be with you in that wilderness offering shelter and refuge. So always pack your tent

[@caiolima801]

Currently tuning in to this fantastic podcast while I am commuting to work haha just like you mentioned - thanks a bunch for sharing such insightful knowledge and experiences.

[@Kayspod]

I listened to scriptures on my hour long drive to work for years. First time I heard Bytheway was on my drive home. (1980s)

[@savannahwegner2738]

23:22 tips for keeping a record… I went years without writing and what works for me now is to do it on paper, not my phone. It’s on my bedside table and I committed to just one sentence per day. Just touch pen to paper. Sometimes that’s all I write but often it’s several sentences or even several pages! Instead of scrolling while in bed I just jot down a couple thoughts.

[@johnhiltoniii]

Love this idea, I'm working on it!

[@phyllisaycock1880]

John, one tip I use is to have the journal at my bedside table and make it the thing I do just after saying my nightly prayer and then go to bed. I do nothing else after that so that it's the last thing I do to remember God's hand in my life that day. Also, Deseret Book has those little journals that cover one question each day for 3 years in a row. That journal makes it easier to write something down each day without stressing out over it too much. I do that at night before bed as well.

[@johnhiltoniii]

Love this, thank you!

[@SBaker-dx5dy]

The suggestions for leveling up on studing and our own record keeping are awesome. Thanks!

[@Marcaline99]

I’d like to preface this by saying that the point of this story is to point out the purity, faith and love of God children have. My mom would listen to my prayers as a child. She always says that I prayed for everyone. As I’ve gotten older I stopped doing this every night, I hope that I can start again and fully mean it.

[@debmoss7775]

I find it confusing that John Hilton III says (46:03) during Part 1 that it was 2 weeks of travel for Lehi's sons to travel back to Jerusalem, but when reading Scripture Plus Brant Gardner-Book of Mormon Minute by Brant Gardner Related verses 1 Nephi 2:6-7, he states: "The three days first tells us that they were only a certain distance south of Jerusalem. They were far enough away that it was unlikely that anyone would bother looking for them, but close enough that it would be possible for the two return trips that the sons took to Jerusalem (for the plates of brass and Ishmael’s family). The three days is also of interest because a Dead Sea Scrolls text declares that sacrifices should not be made within a three days’ journey from the temple in Jerusalem. In Lehi’s day, there was a continuing process of centralization of worship in the physical location of the Jerusalem temple."

[@melanieclark7949]

Although I don't know the answer, I speculate that four young men and a few provisions can travel faster than a whole family and everything they need.

[@melindajanzen7248]

I love this. I am now writing down tender mercies. I never really thought about jotting them down even if it is just a short sentence. It will be fun to back over them at the end of the year.

[@skippymagrue]

Elder Bednar had been giving that talk for a long time at Ricks College about tender mercies.

[@suzannelee4270]

Part 1 time stamp 50:11 - thank you Hank for your tender comments on your 'small' vocabulary change, because you're right, that little change does mean a lot, likely far more than those who are 'blessed' would realize.

[@seekingsofthearts]

❤❤❤

[@jstaheli222]

Amen! All of God’s need our love and His love

[@beckyjohns2767]

I annoy journaling daily, sometimes catching up weekly, in a ten year journal. It has six lines per day, doesn’t take long , helps you review your day and then pray to see tender mercies. The amazing thing is to look back a few years and see where you were, how you have gotten through hard times, it gives you perspective and causes you to feel grateful for the life you have.

[@OwenAllphin]

54:36 Love this podcast. I listen every week. Where can I find the mentioned quote by Joseph Smith at this spot in the episode?

[@lawrenceslusser6075]

My seminary students taught me something about Sariah. She may have been under the stresses of pregnancy since Jacob and Joseph were born in the wilderness. It would be human for her to wonder about leaving family and home to walk into the wilderness based on the dream of her husband. My students taught me to love Sariah even with her doubts. Just going, pregnant or not, requires great faith.

[@katykristensen302]

Photo journaling is awesome!

[@melanieclark7949]

Can you explain how you do that?

[@dianneatkins2552]

Great lesson I found a new love and understanding of the bom thanks.

[@lindahendry1654]

As a teacher, I used the idea of "leveling up" with my students. We would use other students' work as exemplars, and then what an individual could do to level up our own work. The scriptures are filled with exemplars. I love this application to our spiritual lives.

[@ovelia636]

😀 My first Tender Mercy was hearing you refer to God's long view for our families, that He is able to do His own work.

[@elisesteele6939]

The book Leaving a Trace has a lot of good tips for keeping a journal

[@MamaJLW]

An easy way for me to not have blank white page syndrome is to use sticky notes or even cut up pieces of paper. I have a finite-ish amount of space to fill so I’m not worried about leaving the rest of the page blank. The bonus is that I can just add another piece to extend the conversation. I have a “random thoughts” version, a “large plates” version and a “small plates” version. I can either transfer the individual notes to another version or copy them onto a new paper for dual purposes. I used to keep a “sacred baggie” in my purse with pieces of paper to write down my thoughts to add to the journal. I no longer carry a purse so I put a reminder in the notes app on my phone. In the interest of full honesty, I’m a bit behind in transferring the notes to my physical journal.

[@robertrogers4898]

Concerning our children: what do you think of 2 Ne 10:2

[@jorybulkley9260]

I love the podcast! I was saddened to find that the referenced “he knows you” and “glimpses of Lehis Jerusalem” don’t seem to be available anywhere 😢

[@thepathwewalk27]

Oh Boy!! I am so excited for this … 😊

[@charlotteclark72]

I am listening in my car right now!

[@DannyAGray]

47:00 can I push back a little bit, here, and suggest that maybe that area had a lot more water in it 3000 years ago?

[@rebecca5832]

Question - Somethat has stumped me. Why send all 4 boys to Jerusalem several times when each time L&L showed they were not happy to make the trip? Why not send just Nephi and Sam? After the angel visits them, why does Nephi even keep encouraging L&L to obey? After a beating from them, I would have said, 'you go back to mom and dad, and I will stay and accomplish the things we've been commanded.'

[@ItsKeaton]

How is his background the same as that guy last week??

[@lauraolsen9545]

My "journal" consists, in part, of copies of letters I've written to others. I feel it reflects a more realistic and personal view of who I am. It's sporadic, but that's part of who I am. 🤷‍♀️ I also keep a "small plates" Journal of spiritual things. That's sporadic, too, but valuable none the less.

[@trevorlarsen5464]

What is the article by Elder Holland mentioned at 35:33?

[@CalebBrown228]

Thanks!

[@ideationink]

Apple’s IOS 17 features a new journal app. It’s so easy to use and convenient. You can use it to express brief thoughts or write long passages. And you can easily share entries with others or send them to other devices like your computer. I keep my main journal on my computer, but with the convenient features of my phone, I do most stuff on it nowadays, and rarely touch my computer. So, having this journal app is awesome as I feel more encouraged and motivated to actually journal each day or whenever I have thoughts that I want to put down, because I know I want them in my journal eventually. Just seeing the apps icon on my phones home screen is a regular reminder to do this. I’m not someone who gets excited about software updates, and most of the features that come with them. But this time, they definitely did something great. 👍🏻

[@marilynbrennan2801]

Can we get the talk He Knows You in written form?

[@davidfletcher5664]

We were a little confused by the two weeks journey mentioned by Bro. Hilton in this episode as well. Nephi wrote the heading to 1 Nephi and his own words about where Lehi led them were…. “He taketh three days’ journey into the wilderness with his family. Nephi taketh his brethren and returneth to the land of Jerusalem after the record of the Jews”. Seems clear they were 3 days journey away.

[@jturner4755]

He was saying that they went three days into the wilderness after they reached the Red Sea. I loved that new perspective on the geography of the area and how it adds to my knowledge of why Sariah was so upset and discouraged when her sons were gone so long.

[@Rattleandhum32]

Why didn't he say why it says 3 days if it took 2 weeks? Cliff hanger unanswered?

[@elizabethpeterson9914]

It occurred to me as I was listening that I had never thought before how Nephi knew that Lehi had prayed for his people "with all his heart". Did Lehi pray this way in front of his children? My guess is probably not. Although we do pray in front of our kids, our "with all our heart" prayers are usually kept for those private moments between us and the Lord, or at least this is true in my own case. So how would Nephi know about this? It probably was because Lehi recorded it on his own plates, and Nephi read about it later. Which highlights again, the importance of keeping records. Of course I'm making some assumptions here, that Lehi was the same as I am, but after all, we're to liken the scriptures unto ourselves, right? Which reminds me, now I better go write this thought in my journal 😅

[@janeibee582]

I've done a journal nearly 40 years. I always give my thought. What I'm reading/ listening to. I also have added important events. I use to do front page of newspaper. .. ie: 911, Utah newspaper when Pres Nelson became Prophet( Said not to expect him to do much. At his age-)- boy were they wrong. 1981- Revelation that ALL worthy men could have the Priesthood. 1995(?) .proclamation to the family. Etc. Some worldly, many from the church. Bro Halverson said something I thought interesting. 1st word in BOM. "I".. and last 4 verses of BOM ...11or 12 times Christ is mentioned, Lord, Savior, etc. So u start with worldly. ME. And end with the Savior. .following Him and becoming like Him,, is found between ..

[@johnhiltoniii]

Wow, that's a great insight from Brother Halverson, I'm writing that one down!

[@jturner4755]

This is from my notes of four years ago in my online scriptures. I know there was someone saying that the text says three days but it says they went to the Red Sea and then went three days. This information was from a different scholar and I thought maybe a second witness would help the person who was wondering about this. -----It is about 180 miles from Jerusalem to the shores of the Red Sea. That would take a couple of weeks to travel on foot. Then they travel three more days into the wilderness by the Red Sea. I am sure that with people trying to kill Lehi, they needed to be quite a ways away before they set up their base camp. The scriptures say that Lehi had lived all his days in Jerusalem, I’m sure Sariah had too. This was not an easy thing for them to do and the Lord knew that when he asked them to do it. Lehi knew that he and his family would die if they stayed in Jerusalem so although that would make the decision easier, it would not make that journey any easier for people who were use to the comforts of a home and wealth. I feel that the more I understand how arduous it was to make a difficult, strenuous journey like this, the more I can understand just what kind of obedience and sacrifice they made to be obedient to the Lord’s commands. Then I can more of an effort to be actively obedient, too.

[@johnhiltoniii]

Great point!

[@georgerobinson1476]

Hugh Nibley’s story about Nephi and Laban: In 1966 I had Book of Mormon from Hugh Nibley. Hugh Nibley taught Muslim students Book of Mormon because he spoke Arabic. When he came to the part were Nephi argued with the angel against killing Laban, a murmur went through the class. Nibley explained that Nephi was a “city boy and was squeamish” about such things. That evening, Hugh asked his Muslim exchange student living with him what was going on in the class, and his exchange student said, “The story did not ring true.” Nibley asked why, and the student answered, “Nephi hesitated.” We cannot expect other cultures to think the way we do. The experiences in their life may change how they view the world. Nibley also explained to us that the idea of “one man should die so that a nation would not dwindle in unbelief,” was a concept present in ancient Israel, which explained why the Sanhedrin appeased their conscience for wanting to kill Jesus by quoting that concept.

[@ServantofYahshuaHaMashiach]

Great conversations ❤ VANA

[@ideationink]

James Ferrell’s book, “The Holy Secret” is a great read about how we can better understand the scriptures by studying them in unique ways. He focuses on breaking down sections into specific lines and their individual nuggets of wisdom. He knows that because we know everything included in the Book of Mormon is considered of great value, then we can actually assume that every word was considered treasured to the prophets and to the Lord. With that, ask yourself, “why did Nephi say this, and why did he word it this way.” Pondering and studying the scriptures like this, opens up your heart for the Spirit to share additional information in answer to your questions. As he usually does, Ferrell writes in fiction format to teach in-depth gospel principles. It’s a short read, but this book is definitely one to be treasured given its wisdom.

[@johnhiltoniii]

I love that book!

[@dorothyanderson8960]

I love this that

[@melanieclark7949]

In the beginning of this video, this question came to me. If I study slowly the scriptures rather than speed read them, I may not have time to get through all the books and verses. Is that necessarily a bad thing? Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

[@johnhiltoniii]

I think this is a helpful quote: “You should care more about the amount of time you spend in the scriptures than about the amount you read in that time. I see you sometimes reading a few verses, stopping to ponder them, carefully reading the verses again, and as you think about what they mean, praying for understanding, asking questions in your mind, waiting for spiritual impressions, and writing down the impressions and insights that come so you can remember and learn more. Studying in this way, you may not read a lot of chapters or verses in a half hour, but you will be giving place in your heart for the word of God, and He will be speaking to you” (Elder D. Todd Christofferson).

[@marcygrote3800]

Vs 20 of chapter 1. A promise of deliverance for the Lord's "chosen".......who does this promise apply to? See 37.53 time stamp.

[@missmelaniemomof3]

Hello! I'm looking for the 130 verses that John III mentioned about prophets and praying. Where can I get that?

[@laramccully3272]

Where can we access this if not on KZbin, to listen in our cars?😊

[@johnhiltoniii]

Search "Follow Him" where you get your podcasts!

[@FollowHimPodcast]

linktr.ee/FollowHim

[@asdfgh9007]

I was wondering if you know if the church still prints the old scripture mastery cards that they used to have for seminary? Or if you know of a church related company where I can possibly find and purchase them from? I am interested in using them with our family study of the Book of Mormon, but I am unable to find them besides online on the church website/library.

[@caroleburton7769]

Where do I find the talk ‘He knows you’. Thank you

[@kukustweety1]

❤

[@Drawn-by-Abundance]

21:53 Nephi, perhaps because of his scribal training, understood well the rules which he was obligated to abide by, as king: On Scripture Central's "The Book of Mormon and the Ancient Near East - Jonathon Riley" (23m), Jonathan makes the case that Nephi's opening words *meticulously* conform to ancient kingship templates. And *defeating an unbeatable foe* and *building a temple* were both markers of proper Israelite kingship, according to Cian Power in in her paper "Kingship in the Hebrew Bible," and Michael Heiser on Ep 333 of the Naked Bible Podcast "The Israelite King and Jesus as King" (both non-LDS scholars) 𓀛

[@emagil1474]

💙💙

[@daves3429]

Make your journal the last part of your scripture study. Because in essence, you are creating potentially scripture for future generations.