“I prayed unto
the Lord,”
-Things are looking pretty bleak for
Nephi, so what does he do? “I prayed
unto the Lord.” It is by the simple
acts/principles of the gospel that we may find peace/solace in our quite
moments of anguish and in the more dramatic/overtly pressing challenges. Nephi’s skill and ability to successfully
call upon God in this situation rested/was founded upon everyday experience
with prayer.
-this is
the third desperate situation we have read about regarding Nephi since the
beginning of the record. Each time he
has turned to the Lord in prayer and with trust in God to lead him through the
situation. Could this be one of the keys
to Nephi’s greatness? Could this be a
pattern and model that is messaged by the first section of the Book of Mormon? This book is an instruction manual for
building a character of faith and righteousness. The first section of intense scrutiny is a
case study for each of us to emulate.
The first lesson in this instruction manual: when in difficulties and uncertainty,
pray! The second lesson directly follows
from the first: God is there and will
prosper His faithful children.
“Lord,
according to my faith…, wilt thou…”
-His
petition here is in exact accordance to what he earlier preached (verse 12) to
his brothers. Not only are his actions
perfectly aligned to his speech/preaching, but it is ironic that the principle
that allows him to overcome the threat/power of Laman and Lemuel is exactly
what he counseled them to do and which they turned their backs on and fought
against. When they would not bring
themselves in accord to truth, the truth eventually subdued them and stifled
their insurrection è the truth always
overcomes the evil opposed to it.
“give me
strength”
-the Lord
is not against endowing with physical strength to accomplish his purposes, even
if the result is heavenly assistance when violence or near violence is
involved. But notice that a
prerequisite, actually the necessary forerunner, of physical strength is
spiritual power, not the reverse.
Spiritual ability is so much more important than physical endurance.
Nephi’s, Captain Moroni’s and the 2000 warrior’s power was founded on their
spiritual uprightness, not their military drilling or physical training.
-spiritual
strength (including faith and purity) enables physical, intellectual and
emotional strength. The source of our
abilities is in our spiritual being. How
spiritually fit are you? What regimen of
spiritual conditioning have you been following?
One of the purposes of mortality that could not be accomplished in the
first estate is to develop spiritual strength, specifically strength that would
gain fuller expression with the conditions of mortality (addition of a body, of
faith and unrestricted choice, etc.).
The successful development of spiritual strength will unlock privileges
and abilities that we can’t comprehend until we obtain a glorified body. It is in mortality, however, w We will fail to develop the
spiritual capacity that is necessary for us to qualify for the activities for
which we were created. Every sin, every
neglect of opportunity, every time we opt out of a potential for spiritual
exercise, we are forfeiting spiritual growth.
This certainly happens when we violate commandments and engage
forthright in sin but our spiritual lethargy more often takes form when we fail
to do things: when we fail to magnify
our callings, when we fail to serve others, when we fail to consume the
scriptures, when we fail to proactively love our neighbor, when we shrink from
sacrifices. These are the daily
–frequently the small and unremarkable- calisthenics that build spiritual
muscles almost imperceptively over time.
-with all
that the books of Nephi are to teach us
–the major themes and messages- of these, one of the most important is to see
the growth of Nephi. How does he become
so great? Why does his growth exceed not
only Laman and Lemuel’s but also Lehi’s?
By this point Nephi’s faith is unshaken!
His growth has been phenomenal, what has allowed this? What are the things he has experienced? How has he reacted?
We should
not fail to recognize that while Nephi is privileged to glorious theophany's,
he has also endured (always before the sacred visitations; hence “you receive
no witness until after the trial of your faith”) violent and intense
trials/experiences. For example, he has
been beaten up at least twice so far.
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