The Fountain of all Righteousness

Photo by Anthony Simmons: https://www.pexels.com/photo/majestic-canyon-river-in-iceland-s-natural-landscape-31742802/
Photo by Anthony Simmons

1 Nephi 2:9

And when my father saw that the waters of the river emptied into the fountain of the Red Sea, he spake unto Laman, saying: O that thou mightest be like unto this river, continually running into the fountain of all righteousness!

Lehi and his family have camped for while in a small valley through which a river runs to the sea. Before leaving the valley to continue their trek, the prophet-father took the opportunity to use their surroundings as an object lesson for his oldest son, who seemed to be ever wavering between faithful obedience and rebellion. Lehi wanted Laman to channel his energies into following God, the fountain of all righteousness. Note that God does not pour righteousness into Laman, any more than the river takes water from the ocean. Rather, the river joins itself to the sea. Laman must join himself to God to experience the righteousness Lehi wanted so badly for his son.

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