Once in a while for my gospel study time, I enjoy going
through my Book of Mormon from the beginning and reading just the passages I
underlined. As I did that this week, the following theme was very apparent
throughout 1 Nephi, – the Lord will “prepare
a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which He commandeth
them.”
Many of us are familiar when Nephi says it in 1 Nephi 3:7, but the same wording is used in other places as well.
Many of us are familiar when Nephi says it in 1 Nephi 3:7, but the same wording is used in other places as well.
In Chapter 1, Nephi himself explains that he is going to
show us this principle.
1 Nephi 1: 20 But behold, I, Nephi,
will show unto you that the tender
mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of
their faith, to make them mighty even
unto the power of deliverance.
Examples of This Wording
- · 1 Nephi 3:7: I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.
- · 1 Nephi 5:8: And she [Sariah] spake, saying: I know of a surety that the Lord has given them power whereby they could accomplish the thing which the Lord hath commanded them.
- · 1 Nephi 9:5 Wherefore, the Lord hath commanded me to make these [2nd] plates for a wise purpose in him, which purpose I now not. But the Lord knoweth all things from the beginning; wherefore, he prepareth a way to accomplish all his works.
- · 1 Nephi 17:3 And thus we see that the commandments of God must be fulfilled. And if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them.
Examples of How the Lord Prepares a
Way
· Sending promptings is one way the Lord helps us accomplish things:
After they give their best efforts to get the
plates but nothing works, Nephi makes a third attempt. This time he says:
1 Nephi 4:6-7: I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I
should do. Nevertheless I went forth...
·
Strengthening
us to endure is sometimes the way the Lord “prepares a way...”:
1 Nephi 17:2-3 And so great were the
blessings of the Lord upon us, ...our women were strong, yea , even like unto
the men; and they began to bear their journeyings without murmurings.
And if it so be that the children of men
keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the
thing which he has commanded them; wherefore he did provide means for
us while we did sojourn in the wilderness.
· We have to be given power from the Lord:
1 Nephi 4:31 ...having received much
strength from the Lord, therefore I did seize upon the servant of Laban...
1 Nephi 7:17 ...I prayed unto the
Lord...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.
·
The Lord
prepares us for an unseen future event:
1 Nephi 9:5 Wherefore, the Lord hath
commanded me to make these [2nd] plates for a wise purpose in him,
which purpose I now not. But the Lord knoweth all things from the beginning;
wherefore, he prepareth a way to
accomplish all his works.
·
The Lord
provides miracles:
1 Nephi 16:16 And we did follow the
directions of the ball, which led us in the more fertile parts of the
wilderness.
1 Nephi 16:29 And there was also
written upon them a new writing, which was plain to be read, which did give us
understanding concerning the ways of the Lord; and it was written and changed from
time to time, according to the faith and diligence which we gave unto it. And
thus we see that by small means the Lord can bring about great things.
·
The Lord
shows us from time to time how to do something we can’t accomplish on our own:
1 Nephi 18:1 And the Lord did show me from
time to time after what manner I should work the timbers of the ship.
1 Nephi 18:2 I, Nephi, did not work the
timbers after the manner which was learned by men.
1 Nephi 18:3 And I, Nephi, did go into the
mount oft, and I did pray oft unto the Lord; wherefore the Lord showed unto me
great things.
