Each day that we live we are faced with choices. We must make hundreds of choices each day, and it is so important to allow the Lord to aid us in making those decisions. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often mistakenly referred to as the Mormon Church), I have pondered the affect that prayer has in making daily choices. In my Book of Mormon class at BYU, my teacher brought up an interesting point. We are most often faced with these three questions: What should I do? How should I do it? Why should I do it? These three questions are important, but we often don’t know the answer to all three.
Nephi was a prophet in the Book of Mormon who was faced with these questions. Found in 1 Nephi in the Book of Mormon, we read about Nephi traveling with his family into the wilderness to escape the destruction of Jerusalem because of their righteousness. However, after traveling some 200 miles, the Lord asks them to turn around and retrieve some scriptures engraved on flat pieces of brass plates from the priest Laban. This was a daunting task considering the distance they had traveled and the difficulty they would face once they actually got back to Jerusalem.
Nephi knows the answers to two of the vital questions we are presented with. What should he do? Go back to Jerusalem to get the brass plates. Why should he do it? Because the Lord commanded it. That answer is not very explicit but that is where we get to trust the Lord and know that there are more answers to the “why.” Nephi doesn’t know how he is going to get the plates. However, he is faithful and is an example to his elder brothers.
In 1 Nephi, chapter 4, verse 1 of the Book of Mormon, Nephi says to his doubtful brothers, “Let us go up again unto Jerusalem, and let us be faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord; for behold he is mightier than all the earth, then why not mightier than Laban and his fifty, yea, or even than his tens of thousands?” Nephi knows that God is all-powerful and that he and his brothers must be trusting and faithful. He is not afraid of Laban or his large army because he knows the Lord is on his side. In verse 3, Nephi says, “Wherefore can ye doubt? Let us go up; the Lord is able to deliver us.” Nephi trusts the Lord with all his might! I believe we should look to Nephi as an example and act in faith as he did, even if we don’t have all the answers.
Once Nephi and his brothers return to Jerusalem, they make multiple attempts to get the plates and are not successful at first. His older brothers became angry with him, and that is when Nephi encourages them to be faithful. After reassuring his brothers that everything will be alright, he enters the city and goes towards Laban’s house. In verse 6 of chapter 4 he says, “And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do. Nevertheless, I went forth.” This shows the incredible amount of trust that Nephi has in the Lord! He doesn’t know how he is going to carry out the task he’s been given. He just knows that he will do it.
I can relate Nephi’s story to mine. I just graduated from high school in May 2012 and was faced with the decision of where to go next in life. I had been accepted to BYU and was very excited for the opportunity that was before me. I knew what I should do. Knowing how to do it was not very difficult to know- I needed to pack up my stuff and go! But knowing why I should do it troubled me. I was a nanny in New York for half of my summer and came to love the family I worked for. I could have stayed there for the duration of this year but for some reason, I felt like the right thing for me was to go get an education at BYU this fall. I was scared out of my wits. I had never been away from my family aside from my nanny experience and the thought of taking college classes at BYU seemed a daunting task. I felt insecure about finding friends and being comfortable with making my own meals and paying for anything I ever had to pay for. All of these aspects contributed to my anxiety and I still hadn’t received an answer as to why I was supposed to go to BYU.
Even after being here for two and a half weeks, I don’t know all the reasons why I am meant to study at BYU at this time. I didn’t know all the answers, “nevertheless I went forth.” This is where I apply my faith and trust in the Lord as Nephi did. I can study my scriptures to relate my life to those of olden days and to learn from my predecessors, I can listen to music that uplifts me, I can serve those around me, I can attend church on a weekly basis, I can pray to the Lord for strength. All of these things will allow the Holy Ghost to enter into my life so I can be “led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do.” The Lord will bless me for trusting in Him and I know that He will bless anyone else that acts with a desire to do His will. He loves us and wants us to be happy!! In order to find the greatest happiness, we must turn to Him, ask Him His will and follow it. Just trust in Him and do as He asks. He will bless you. God loves you! I know that with all my heart!
Article written by Mackenzie C
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