1 Nephi 3:17-18
17 For he knew that Jerusalem must be destroyed, because of the wickedness of the people.
18 For behold, they have rejected the words of the prophets. Wherefore, if my father should dwell in the land after he hath been commanded to flee out of the land, behold, he would also perish. Wherefore, it must needs be that he flee out of the land.
This knowledge is representative of the source of Nephi’s freedom and his strength. Because he knew Jerusalem would be destroyed, he could not be enticed by its beauty, power, or riches. Because he knew that the wickedness of the people would be the cause of the city’s destruction, and his father had been warned to avoid that fate, Nephi could not be enticed by those people’s approbation or intimidated by their criticism, hatred, or threats. This knowledge made him free to follow God’s instructions and confident in God’s help.
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