Nephi and Moses

Nephi spoke several times about Moses in his writings in the Book of Mormon.  I think he must have felt a special kinship with Moses because they were similar in so many ways.  They both traveled a long time in the wilderness.  Both were spiritual leaders in the midst of a people who sometimes obeyed the commandments of God but often were rebellious.  Both were the instruments in the hands of the Lord to save their people.  They both miraculously crossed a large body of water with their people.  They also both received revelation from the Lord to govern their people.  I think that as Nephi faced very difficult challenges, he found motivation for himself in the example of Moses.  One of the things that Nephi really admired about Moses was the power that Moses had through the Lord.  Nephi told his brothers, “Ye also know that Moses, by his word according to the power of God which was in him, smote the rock, and there came forth water” (1 Nephi 17:29).  It was the “power of God which was in him” that brought forth the miracles.  Nephi also said, “Let us go up; let us be strong like unto Moses” (1 Nephi 4:2).  Nephi had incredible tasks to perform himself as he worked to make their journey successful, and it appears that he looked toward Moses as an example of faithfulness.  He later said as well, “Now ye know that Moses was commanded of the Lord to do that great work; and ye know that by his word the waters of the Red Sea were divided hither and thither” (1 Nephi 17:26).  Towards the end of his writings he wrote, “As the Lord God liveth that brought Israel up out of the land of Egypt, and gave Moses power that he should heal the nations” (2 Nephi 25:20).  Moses had great power given him from the Lord and Nephi tried to use that to inspire his brothers and likely to motivate himself to righteous works.  The way that Nephi looked to Moses is perhaps an example to us of the kinds of models we should choose to follow—besides the Savior Himself, the prophets are the best examples to look to for guidance on how to live our lives.