-Nephi’s answer addresses both of Laman/Lemuel’s
objections:
·
“The things which the Lord hath commanded” =
Nephi recognizes where the calling has come from. It’s source is God even though it was conveyed
through a man (a prophet/their father).
·
“the Lord giveth no commandment… save he shall
prepare a way” = we remember that a primary objection to the job at hand was
that it was a “difficult thing”. Not
only does Nephi know where the command originates, but he knows that however
hard, improbable, irrational, unpopular, etc. the thing might be to accomplish,
the Lord will raise him up and support him in the eventual succeed at the
endeavor.
"I will go and do"
-these
may be three of the most glorious words a father can hear from a son while at
the same time the most difficult words for a son to speak to his father. The willing obedience of a child is one of
the highest joys for parents. To hear a
child say “yes, I will do that” in response to any request large or small
brings joy and contentment that the child is on the path to happiness and
accomplishment. It denotes a humble and
obedient heart even when the request concerns a small matter like taking out the trash, getting dressed, finishing homework. If this is the answer for small things, it is likely to be the answer
for large things like going on a mission, treating a young woman with respect
and defending her purity, retaining integrity when fraud is the status
quo. From the perspective of a youth,
however, to acquiesce willingly to so many requests feels like a surrender,
like submission to a burden, it may be esteemed as humiliation or a threat to
one’s individuality or sense of identity.
It is a reminder that he or she is not in charge, a constant evidence of
not getting your own way. Often
resentment is the response to parental requests. The impulse of the natural man is to resist
and rebel.
Footnote
a:
1 Sam. 17:32, 1Kings 17:11-15
“go and
do”
-it is
one thing to “go” and still another, and harder, thing to “do”. Hundreds of missionaries go but a precious
minority “do”. The great and honorable and chosen are the
ones that “do”.
-we
should always remember that Laman and Lemuel both came around to the “go” part
of this equation. Many will go but it is
in the subtleties or the “how” of the going that changes everything. Yes, “go” is the essential first step and
there are blessings associated with obedience to “go”. But there is a deeper conviction that comes of
faith that fuels our resolve to overcome the difficulties that are always faced
in the second or “do” stage. This is
where Laman and Lemuel could not rise to the task. This is where our own personal will power
reaches its limits and dependence on God’s infinite power of will carries the
day. Perservereing into and through the
“do” stage requires a genuine relationship with God. It is where the partnership is consummated. We become partners with diety. This cannot be feigned or forged in an
instant. This is where our resevoirs of
faith are required, where the oil in our lamps provides the energy to see us
through the dark night. There is no
deception or fakery. You have it or you
do not.
“I will go and
do the things which the Lord hath commanded”
-there
is a critical pattern established throughout the scriptures but perhaps nowhere
illustrated better than by Nephi here.
Nephi becomes an imitator of the Savior.
His words, expressing his commitment, are nearly exact replicas of the
Savior’s. What is more is how Nephi is
mirroring words and behavior he and we have seen firsthand in the pre-mortal
life. Nephi’s own desires, his own
Did Nephi WANT to go back to Jerusalem and
tackle a challenge that seemed almost unattainable? Not in a million years, so what would make
him do just that? We can expect to find
ourselves in just such a situation albeit the exact circumstances will be
custom fit to our day, technology and context.
fears, hopes and appetites are consciously placed behind his father’s.
"...the things which the
Lord hath commanded..."
-Nephi
understands the source of the instruction, these are the things the Lord
commands, not the things man commands.
And this difference is at the heart of why Nephi could press forward and
why Laman and Lemuel failed. This same
difference is why any venture that includes God can prevail and why those that
exclude him will ultimately fail. This
is true of individuals, governments, families, marriages, civilizations, as
well as the ideas and principles that lie at the foundation of each of
these. This is why secularism and its
manifestations, laws, concepts and embodiments eventually fall apart. Anything lasting –the ultimate manifestation
of which is “eternal”- must be connected into the source of lasting, of being,
of integrity. Secularism which is based
on man and man’s best ideas has no integrity.
It must fall apart because man is temporal. Its very basis is limited, temporary and
transient. In the eyes of man it may
appear to have some permanence but a couple generations or a couple hundred
years, even a couple millennia is a moment when compared to ages, eons and
eternity. Our point of view is so
incredibly myopic and puny.
-the
things the Lord commands will all be done whether it be sooner or later or
whether we or another be the one to accomplish them. The objectives of God will come about. Why then should we resist being the subject
that brings these things about when we are invited?
“for I know”
-Nephi is
willing to “go and do” while Laman and Lemuel are not and it boils down to this
statement: Nephi knows God –about God,
that this is His work/will, that God will prosper his efforts, that God is, in
fact, real and involved in this adventure- and Lamand and Lemuel do not.
-how did Nephi
know? Because he just had a personal
experience with God (see chapter 2, verses 16, 19-24.
"I
know that the Lord giveth ..."
-we
should be careful in the placement of our faith, it is true -absolutely and
unequivocally- that the Lord giveth no commandments except that they are proper,
achievable, etc. but sometimes man, your
parents, your spouse, etc. will request things that are not proper or achievable. It is important, especially for the youth to
distinguish the always appropriate requests of the Lord and recognize the
sometimes errant actions of parents.
Nephi understood the source of this request whereas Laman and Lemuel did
not.
“he shall prepare”
-the
preparation for the promised accomplishment is in God’s hands, not ours. We are simply to be goers and doers. It is not for us to be concerned with the
how, although that question will drive us crazy. The natural man wants to have a grasp on the
“how” before he commences. We want to
have a plan and we want to know what it is. That is the way of the rational
mind. In fact, we frequently fail to
start along the way of accomplishment until we “see” the way, until we know how
something is to come about. Our knowing
the how is obviously not of primary concern to God, he is much more concerned
with our trusting him. The drive for
understanding the “how” is to trust in the arm of flesh. When we strike out “not knowing beforehand”,
that is an expression of faith and submission.
“shall prepare”
-the
avenue to a thing’s accomplishment is not always clear. The Lord will make possible a path that had
been, will be, or at all other times would have been closed or impossible. Don’t faint because the way to accomplishing
something is impossible at the moment or had been just a few moments
earlier. After all, the Red Sea did not
have a permanent part in it. It was made
to divide for only a few moments in the history of its existence.
"he
shall prepare a way"
-the use of future tense
"shall" signifies that the way is not currently prepared but in due time
it will be. This signifies a great need
to exercise faith and carry on expending all energy and means within your power
and then counting on divine assistance at the moment (after we have done all
that we can) when things are beyond your power and now in the hands of
God. This is faith at its finest. In the tense and meaning of the word “shall”
is the need for the exercise of faith.
-this is
a promise from God to those who obey him:
He shall prepare a way for them.
God makes a path for those who abide and pursue his will. He will straighten and clear the way which to
us seems impassable and strewn with obstacles.
Even if the barrier is a sea or an army or a host of social,
psychological or physiological impediments.
The path of deliverance cuts through tight places and narrow passages,
it is, afer all, straight and narrow.
-we have
a full capability to achieve all the commandments we have been given. There is not one that we cannot
fulfill.
“a way”
-this
little word is very important. It is not
singular. We are not taught that there
is one way. If there were one way of
accomplishment it would read: “save he
shall prepare the way…” Sometimes if we
knew the one and only way of accomplishing a thing we would be more enthused to
do it. But there is not one way to
activate a less active family neither is there one way to be a missionary. There is not one method that will gain the
attention of all and touch everyone’s heart.
Neither
does it read “my way”. The Lord will do
the work as he sees fit. Too often we
want to do His work the way we see fit.
The brothers were about to learn this first hand.
“they may
accomplish”
-the Lord
is an accomplisher. He does not
fail. His is a work of success. He is assured of success but without forcing
anyone to do anything against their wills
Think about that! Remarkable!
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