HARD THINGS

 

Sometimes God asks us to do some hard things that not everyone else can do. Lehi’s colonisation of ancient America is an amazing proof of that. It shows that God puts in key positions those of His children who He knows would not let Him down. He certainly knew that a rich merchant Lehi would walk away from his riches and cross two oceans to get to where God wanted him to go.

The same with his son Nephi. I love how his father could depend on him when he asked him to return to Jerusalem to get the brass plates (1 Nephi 3:6). Nephi immediately affirmed that the Lord will provide the way for accomplishing such a hard task (1 Nephi 3:7). The whole story thereafter reads like Arabian Nights….

Obtaining the plates took three attempts. Nephi’s perseverance was admirable (1 Nephi 3:15). This is what stands out to me though. Nephi was an obedient person who had lived by the commandments his whole life. Then the Lord asks him to kill someone. I don’t know that I could ever do it knowing how incredibly evil killing is. But God knew that Nephi’s commitment to obedience was strong enough to do such a hard thing and He knew that he could depend on him (1 Nephi 4:17,18).

David slew Goliath in the same manner by cutting off his head, without blinking, and he became a man of war but I don’t recall Nephi killing anyone else for the rest of his life. It was clearly not in his disposition to destroy life. But obedience was.

God knows us incredibly well and this is how: “During the ages in which we lived in the pre-mortal state, we not only developed our various characteristics and showed our worthiness and ability, or the lack of it, but we were also where such progress could be observed…..it was natural for our Father to discern and choose those who were most worthy and evaluate the talents of each individual. He knew not only what each of us COULD do, but also what each of us WOULD do when put to the test and when responsibility was given us.” (President Joseph Fielding Smith, “The Way to Perfection” [1970], 50-51)

The greatest example of this concept is of course the Saviour. The Atonement He performed in mortality was in actual fact just a formality. We could actually draw upon its blessings and power in pre-existence as if it had already happened. Hence, we could be born innocent as the Atonement of Christ also covered our pre-mortal sins. (See Tad Callister, “The Infinite Atonement” p 85). The Father knew that His Son could do it and would do it. And so did we…..hence our vote.

We might not be the Saviour, Nephi or Joseph Smith but we just need to be strong enough to do whatever it is the Father is requiring of us and one day we will find out who we really are and we will be amazed…..

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art by Liz Lemon Swindle)