Rejoice? Really?

Trying out Elder Bednar’s suggestion of studying a specific topic by using an inexpensive Book of Mormon and reading to find answers to that topic.  How can I apply the atonement more effectively in my life. This topic incorporates a lot of subcategories which I have listed as faith, repentance and forgiveness.  Forgiveness is unique as I am trying to understand how I can be forgiven and accept that forgiveness.  I have discovered some subcategories of faith including diligence and endurance.  This blog attempts to elucidate some of the inspiration received in 1 Nephi 1.

Many members of the church probably feel as I felt as I turned to 1 Nephi 1, “What new tidbit could I possibly learn from this chapter.”  This chapter is probably the most read chapter of any book of scripture.  “I Nephi, having been born of goodly parents…” Yeah, yeah, yeah…we have all read it numerous times.  Many of us have taught it numerous times in Sunday School, seminary, etc.  As I began that verse, my mind raced ahead to the rest of the chapter, “Lehi is going to have a couple of visions and then he is going to go out and preach.” 

Wait a minute..I remembered that I would be reading some things I had previously found to be a bit incongruous.   Lehi prays because of his concern for his people.  He then has a vision of a fire resting on a rock. He presumably sees the destruction of Jerusalem and it troubles him.  Verse 7, says that once he returned home he cast himself on his bed and was overcome with the Spirit and the things which he had seen.  This all makes sense to me. It would disturb me if I saw a vision of the destruction of Las Vegas (not hard to imagine).

While pondering on his bed, Lehi sees God sitting on his throne, Christ coming to earth, the twelve, and is told to read a book (In John the Beloved’s vision he was instructed to eat the book).  Lehi reads as described in verse 13, “Wo, wo, unto Jerusalem, for I have seen thy abominations!”  He then sees the destruction of Jerusalem and that many “perish by the sword, and many should be carried away captive…”

Now comes the part I have always found to be a bit inconsistent.  After seeing this great destruction, Lehi praises God for his mercy in verse 14.  Mercy?  Really?  He has just witnessed many deaths and the captivity of those that are left and he is talking about the mercy of God? Verse 15 is really odd.  Nephi records, “for his (Lehi’s) soul did rejoice, and his whole heart was filled, because of the things which he had seen.”  Now he is rejoicing?  I must have missed something.  I reread the entire chapter looking for the reason for such joy amidst such bad news. I believe I caught a glimpse of what gave Lehi reason to rejoice. 

Now I would like to hear from you what you believe gave Lehi reason to rejoice and his heart to be filled.  Nephi admits in Verse 16 that he did not write all that his father saw, but he alludes to it here and there.  Why is this particular vision and his Lehi’s reaction to it, used as the beginning of the Book of Mormon?  I would enjoy hearing from you, my readers.  Please, comment.  I will supply my thoughts latter.