1 Nephi 1:1, Part I
“I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father….”
Much has been said on the Internet regarding the definition of the word “goodly,” with the general consensus leaning toward “wealthy.” (Just Google “goodly wealthy,” and you’ll see what I mean.) If I might add my own humble opinion to the fray, I would indeed agree that this is the correct definition (despite its pop-culture alternative). So if this be the case, it helps us understand more about the culture in which Nephi is writing—not because his parents were wealthy, but because of the phrase which immediately follows.
In our day and nation, education—at least basic education—is considered nothing less than a civil right. In this way we have greatly improved the situation of much of our society. Not so in Nephi’s time and place: the wealth of his parents was inexorably tied to Lehi’s learning, and both that wealth and the learning with which it is associated bear directly on Nephi’s opportunities for learning. Consider the words of later prophets: Nephi’s brother (and contemporary) Jacob speaks of “they that are rich, who are puffed up because of their learning” (2 Nephi 9:42); and even hundreds of years later, Nephi’s descendants
As the old saying goes, the more things change, the more they stay the same.
So what was “the learning of [Nephi’s] father”? That, dear friends, is a topic for another day.
Likening the scriptures unto myself:
My parents are definitely good people, and while they’re not tremendously wealthy, they were able to provide me with a financial comfort that most people in this world can only dream of. I didn’t appreciate it, at the time, but as years go by, I realize just how good I had it. As a child, my secular learning came from the public school system in the town where my parents still live. There are plenty of lower-class areas within half an hour of my parents’ home, and had they not had that wealth—much of it, the result of significant sacrifice on their part—I doubt I would have had such great opportunities for learning.
When the time came for me to go to college, my parents footed the bill. And when I was later called to serve a mission, my parents—despite not being members of the Church nor agreeing with what I was doing—still paid for half of it. Even after my mission and after my marriage, my parents’ relative wealth has bailed us out many times and helped me to get the education I need. In this way, I have been extremely blessed, and I only hope I can someday have the kind of riches they have, so I can help others the way they helped me.
So who am I helping, with what I do have?
In our day and nation, education—at least basic education—is considered nothing less than a civil right. In this way we have greatly improved the situation of much of our society. Not so in Nephi’s time and place: the wealth of his parents was inexorably tied to Lehi’s learning, and both that wealth and the learning with which it is associated bear directly on Nephi’s opportunities for learning. Consider the words of later prophets: Nephi’s brother (and contemporary) Jacob speaks of “they that are rich, who are puffed up because of their learning” (2 Nephi 9:42); and even hundreds of years later, Nephi’s descendants
“began to be distinguished by ranks, according to their riches and their chances for learning; yea, some were ignorant because of their poverty, and others did receive great learning because of their riches” (3 Nephi 6:12).
As the old saying goes, the more things change, the more they stay the same.
So what was “the learning of [Nephi’s] father”? That, dear friends, is a topic for another day.
Likening the scriptures unto myself:
My parents are definitely good people, and while they’re not tremendously wealthy, they were able to provide me with a financial comfort that most people in this world can only dream of. I didn’t appreciate it, at the time, but as years go by, I realize just how good I had it. As a child, my secular learning came from the public school system in the town where my parents still live. There are plenty of lower-class areas within half an hour of my parents’ home, and had they not had that wealth—much of it, the result of significant sacrifice on their part—I doubt I would have had such great opportunities for learning.
When the time came for me to go to college, my parents footed the bill. And when I was later called to serve a mission, my parents—despite not being members of the Church nor agreeing with what I was doing—still paid for half of it. Even after my mission and after my marriage, my parents’ relative wealth has bailed us out many times and helped me to get the education I need. In this way, I have been extremely blessed, and I only hope I can someday have the kind of riches they have, so I can help others the way they helped me.
So who am I helping, with what I do have?
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