Lessons from 1 Nephi 2:15

1 Nephi 2:15
And my father dwelt in a tent.

From my earliest memories, this verse has intrigued me. At first it was simply that it had "only" seven words. This one and "Jesus wept" were some of my first memorized scriptures. Over the years I have often asked myself, "Why is this so important that Nephi bothered to point it out?" I still don't really know all the reasons, but here are some thoughts.

First, in the past, Lehi has NOT dwelt in a tent. He has presumably dwelt in the city of Jerusalem as a somewhat prosperous man. This verse, then, is in some ways a follow up to 2:4, where Lehi left all his comforts and possessions. His dwelling in a tent is symbolic of his willingness to humbly follow the Lord. It is as if Nephi is commenting on how much their lives have changed in these few days.

There also might be some kind of historical cultural significance to the place where the "father" of a family dwells. I don't know much about that, but perhaps there are rules or customs associated with taking care of the father or honoring him?

If you look at the footnotes for "tent" it takes you to verses about Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob -- other "fathers" who dwelt in tents. Perhaps, then, Nephi is starting to recognize the significance of their being in tents, like the great patriarchs -- his father receiving direction and all of them beginning a physical and spiritual journey.

Also, in other places in the scriptures, the word "tent" is used almost synonymously with the word "tabernacle." There are enough other similarities to the Biblical Exodus that it would not surprise me if Lehi's dwelt in a "tabernacle" of sorts. And we know that the Nephites later built temples. Anyone know more about Old Testament customs here? Is that even a possibility? I am not sure, but it is interesting.

At any rate, Nephi tells us his father dwelt in a tent, and the very NEXT thing is a description of his own quest to understand the things of God. It makes me wonder if Lehi dwelling in a tent, with whatever symbolism it carried, contributed at least partially to Nephi's decision to "cry unto the Lord."

Now for the lesson...
* As a parent this tells me that our obedience, humility, and worshipful attitude can have a DIRECT impact on our children. It particularly affects them when they have questions or challenges in their lives. It determines how and where they turn for answers and helps to provide a foundation of faith when theirs might be lacking.