The First Principles
and Ordinances
The spiritual parallels in First Nephi are fairly easy to detect. Nephi lays them out for us in just a few verses of chapter 17. There he reviews the history of the children of Israel's deliverance from Egypt and their journey to the promised land. (1 Ne. 17:23-32.) These verses seem to depict the first principles and ordinances of the gospel. Though Book of Mormon history also illustrates these points, in this instance the spiritual types are more clearly depicted in the corresponding Israelites' history.
The reason the Lord commanded Moses to deliver the children of Israel was because they "were in bondage..., laden with tasks, which were grievous to be borne." (1 Ne. 17:25.)(1) Individuals can also find themselves in a state of bondage. Christ said, "...Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin." (John 8:34.) The gospel reaches out with a message of deliverance to such individuals.
The first step required for an individual to begin shaking off his shackles of sin is to have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Analogously, Nephi stated that the children of Israel "would [not] have been led away out of the hands of the Egyptians if they had not hearkened unto the words of the Lord." (1 Ne. 17:23.) Hearkening and having faith are closely intertwined.
Nephi then asked, "...Do ye suppose that they would have been led out of bondage, if the Lord had not commanded Moses that he should lead them out of bondage?" (1 Ne. 17:24.) Individuals seeking deliverance and salvation are not left alone either. The Lord has always emphasized the need for missionaries to seek out and teach such individuals. So this aspect of history seems to depict missionary work.
"...Wherefore, ye know that it must needs be a good thing for them, that they should be brought out of bondage," Nephi continued. (1 Ne. 17:25.) On an individual level, leaving Egypt might represent repenting of one's sins and forsaking them. (D&C 6:9.) Repentance is the second principle of the gospel.
Nephi next said that after the children of Israel passed through the Red Sea on dry ground that the pursuing "Egyptians were drowned in the Red Sea...." (1 Ne. 17:27.) If Egypt and its oppressors represents sin, might their being drowned represent baptism and the washing away of sins--the third principle of the gospel?(2) Paul seemed to confirm this symbolic correlation, saying, "All our fathers...passed through the sea, and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea." (1 Cor. 10:1,2.) The completeness of the cleansing that baptism brings is symbolically alluded to in a verse from the Psalms. It states that when the waters of the Red Sea covered the enemies of the children of Israel, "there was not one of them left." (Psalms 106:9-11.)
Once the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they "were fed with manna" and drank of the waters that sprang forth from the rock that Moses struck with his rod. (1 Ne. 17:28,29.) These tokens of bread and water remind us of the emblems of the Lord's flesh and blood which we partake in the renewing ordinance of the sacrament. Again, Paul confirms this symbolism, stating that the children of Israel "did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ." (1 Cor. 10:3,5.) As the manna satisfied the children of Israel's appetites, and the water did "quench their thirst" (1 Ne. 17:29), so has Jesus Christ taught, "He that eateth this bread eateth of my body to his soul; and he that drinketh of this wine drinketh of my blood to his soul; and his soul shall never hunger nor thirst, but shall be filled." (3 Ne. 20:8.)
The fourth principle of the gospel, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, also seems to be symbolized in scriptural history. While the Israelites wandered through the wilderness, they "[were] led, the Lord their God, their Redeemer, going before them, leading them by day and giving light unto them by night, and doing all things for them which were expedient for man to receive." (1 Ne. 17:30.)(3) Likewise, Nephi said the Holy Ghost "will show unto you all things what ye should do." (2 Ne. 32:5.)
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Endnotes:
1. In the case of Book of Mormon history, Lehi's group was not threatened by bondage so much as they were by destruction. Metaphorically, though, bondage and destruction are the same, for the captivity of Satan leads to spiritual death. (2 Ne. 2:27.)
2. The Lehites also crossed a body of water (the river Laman) before entering into the wilderness. (1 Ne. 16:12.) A possible symbol of baptism may be found in that event as well, considering what the river Laman represented to the Lehites. As the waters of baptism are the gate into the strait and narrow way leading to salvation, so did Lehi admonish Laman to be like the river they crossed: "continually running into the fountain of all righteousness." (1 Ne. 2:9; see also Ether 8:26.)
3. The symbol in Book of Mormon history for the Holy Ghost probably lies with the Liahona, or compass, which they received. Both point the best way to go, and they work "according to the faith and diligence" that is given them. (16:10,16,28.)
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