1 Nephi 9:5-6 Wherefore, the Lord hath commanded me to make these plates for a wise purpose in him, which purpose I know not. But the Lord knoweth all things from the beginning; wherefore, he prepareth a way to accomplish all his works among the children of men; for behold, he hath all power unto the fulfilling of all his words. And thus it is. Amen.
As we read Nephi’s accounts, it is easy to perceive a life being perfectly led by God at all times—and Nephi lived as close to that possibility as anyone could. However, we know that the afflictions he experienced were intense, for at one point his elder brothers claimed it would have been better to have died than to have suffered in the wilderness. Nephi approached every situation, easy and rough, by seeking understanding and direction from God, and then he followed through with exactness. It’s absolutely amazing! He appears to have a naturally optimistic personality, full of energy and excitement. My mother is like that; she never complains whether her master bedroom is a board laid down in the attic to keep her from falling through the roof, with temperatures far exceeding those possible to endure, or it is in the cellar of an old home, where the rain trickles down the walls. Life can’t hand my mother a situation that is dire and miserable, because she chooses joy and contentment. That’s how I see Nephi, positive in all situations whether he’s hiding in the cavity of a rock from wicked Laban who is seeking to take his life, or trying to find materials in an unfamiliar wilderness to make a bow and arrow in order to feed his starving family. He knows how to keep his head up and to appreciate what each day has to offer. We can rest assured though, that life was rough for him, and that he had times of enlightenment and times when he felt alone and answers didn’t come easily. We know this because this is mortality, it’s how we grow and how we develop keen awareness of the Holy Ghost.
My point here is that the Lord had an important purpose for Nephi to accomplish, much bigger and grander than just getting the plates from Laban and feeding his family. His positive attitude and faithful devotion to God did a lot more than just make the day pleasant—it created the Nephite nation. This young boy’s actions affected the future in ways he never could have fully comprehended. Nephi didn’t have to understand, because he knew that the Lord was in charge, and so he had faith that if he followed the Lord then all purposes would be accomplished, even those beyond his wildest imaginations.
We, too, are part of a greater purpose. Our lives matter so much more than just the “groundhog day” repetition that we do day in and day out. It is easy to get lost in the shuffle of life, and not see the huge impact that our everyday actions have on others. There’s a ripple effect taking place every day that extends through the generations. Look at Nephi, one person’s faithfulness extended to become the Nephites. Then, in opposition to that, Laman and Lemuel’s rebellious attitudes echoed in the hearts of the Laminates. We aren’t just dealing with ourselves, we are impacting the future.
I have a collection of moments and sayings that have become my own personal life-scriptures, all from watching and listening to others throughout my life. Those who have left these lasting impressions, may not even be aware that they made it into my mental filing cabinet. This is true for everyone—as we go through our daily lives we have both the opportunity to leave goodness in our wake, and to absorb treasures of wisdom and goodness from others.
“Look up with eyes toward eternity and the purposes of the Lord.” -Elder Yoon Hwan Choi
What a blessing to us that Nephi trusted the Lord and followed him 100%. Today we are blessed with the Book of Mormon, which testifies, witnesses, and teaches of Christ and His never ending love for each of us. The Book of Mormon stands side by side with the Bible and restores any and all truth that wicked men removed for their own purposes. Today the scriptures—together as one, give us every guidance that we need, especially when we add daily, fervent prayers, and a soft, obedient heart.
1 Nephi 9:3 I have received a commandment of the Lord that I should make these plates, for the special purpose that there should be an account engraven of the ministry of my people.
-Written by Sherri Jorgensen
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