The Two Ways in 1 Nephi 1

As I'm reading through the Book of Mormon this year, I'm looking for the key elements of the two ways.  One key feature that stands out up front is that the Way of Life involves missionary work -- when you hear the voice of the Spirit, you hearken unto it and share the glad tidings with others. The sins of others causes you grief. The Way of Death causes you to harden your heart against the word and mock those who try to share the glad tidings. These are themes we'll see over and over again.

Alma-2 summarizes this aspect of the way of life with these words:

29 Therefore he sent angels to converse with them, who caused men to behold of his glory.
30 And they began from that time forth to call on his name; therefore God conversed with men, and made known unto them the plan of redemption, which had been prepared from the foundation of the world; and this he made known unto them according to their faith and repentance and their holy works. (Alma 12)
1 ...I would that ye should remember that the Lord God ordained priests, after his holy order, which was after the order of his Son, to teach these things unto the people. (Alma 13)

In other words: "See an angel, be an angel" (my words)

Here are my notes from 1 Nephi 1:

The Way of Life:

• v. 4: "many prophets" came to Jerusalem to warn the people to repent.
• v. 5: Lehi "prayed unto the Lord, yea, even with all his heart, in behalf of his people."
• A visionary experience follows, causing him to "quake and tremble exceedingly" and to be "overcome with the Spirit"
• He then sees a vision of the Son of God, His disciples, and angels praising God on His throne.
• He praises God, "for his soul did rejoice, and his whole heart was filled, because of the things which he had seen, yea, which the Lord had shown unto him."
• He prophecies and testifies to the wicked people at Jerusalem:
• for he truly testified of their wickedness and their abominations; 
• and he testified that the things which he saw and heard, and also the things which he read in the book: 
• manifested plainly of the coming of a Messiah, 
• and also the redemption of the world.
• "But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance." Lehi was chosen by God because of his faith and made mighty even unto the power of deliverance.  There is double meaning here -- Lehi (and his family) were delivered both from the destruction in Jerusalem and from the effects of the fall of Adam and sin.

Summary: The Way of Life requires us to listen to the prophetic messengers sent to us, hearken to their words, seek for understanding, and act on the instructions we are given. As we do this, our soul rejoices and we feel to praise God. We will be taught plainly of the Messiah and the redemption of the world.

The Way of Death:

• When the Jews heard Lehi's teaching, they "were angry" and "sought his life."

Summary: This one is pretty straight forward. :)