In my Book of Mormon class at Brigham Young University, we have been trying to understand on how to use the stories from this set of God’s word. I have been thinking recently about the ways in which God chooses to act in our lives. Starting off this semester of college, I seem to have a great load of homework that pile up every day. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (sometimes mistakenly called the Mormon Church), the idea that life will not be a field of roses or simplicities, is taught to members at a fairly young age. I sometimes may not react with the greatest enthusiasm as displayed as a forced giant smile when life does not quite turn out. I have not yet reached that place yet of perfect hope. I may not seem the perfect “Mormon,” but nobody in my church would ever expect that from me. I am myself- unperfected, but trying to become more Christ-like.
So when I find scriptures that help me find out how to overcome stress, you can imagine that I am thrilled about ways that can actually make life more bearable. The Book of Mormon, a record of God’s dealings with people in the ancient Americas, is one of my release valves. This week, I found some words that helped me to make it through this past week without the usual frustration. It is about this man, Nephi (an ancient American prophet) who is tied up by his brothers for trying to stick up for his father, who was a prophet. The scripture is found in the Book of Mormon in 1 Nephi 7:17-18:
But it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord, saying: O Lord, according to my faith which is in thee, wilt thou deliver me from the hands of my brethren; yea, even give me strength that I may burst these bands with which I am bound. And it came to pass that when I had said these words, behold, the bands were loosed from off my hands and feet…
So to me, this describes the situation that I find myself in when I go through stressful times. Nephi was bound (which would not be fun or comfortable); he asked God for some help; he was helped out. When he prayed, Nephi asked for specific help in what was going on in his life.
This past week, I was struggling as a student at Brigham Young University. My homework pile was growing so much and my time was running short. Life held ten tasks to do but only time for three of them. It was one of those rushed weeks. I was constantly out of breath with rushing from place to place, and I recognized that something would need to change, or I would never find a solution to work out some of the essays. I prayed to God for help to not only get through the week but to find a way to enjoy it.
At the start of the week, my prayers were weak, somewhat repetitious, and I really did not think about what I was praying about before I prayed. As my desperation grew, I saw the scripture and I knew that I would need to ask for specific things to help in my day, which is how we as Latter-day Saints are taught to pray. It worked. A computer lab opened up and somehow time seemed to slow down as I rushed from project to project, and I made some friends along the way. Even though this week was stressful, my prayers were answered. God does care, but sometimes we need to ask him specifically what we think we need, and then He can fill in the rest.
Article written by Eric S
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