What Great Things!

Nephi’s family had been living in the wilderness for months, maybe even a year or more, when a huge conflict threatened to stop their progress altogether. The sons of Lehi had gotten the brass plates from Laban, pursued by an army of fifty, successful only by the grace and power of God.

They had later gone back to bring Ishmael and his family out of Jerusalem, the Lord softening Ishmael’s heart as Nephi spoke “the words of the Lord” to his family. As they journeyed from Jerusalem back to where Lehi and Sariah had pitched their tents and built a temporary ‘home,’ there was a division in the group.

Laman and Lemuel, along with Ishmael’s two sons and their families, and two of Ishmael’s sisters rebelled, and in fact threatened and even attempted to kill Nephi. As Nephi tried to get them to see the ‘big picture,’ he asks them a number of questions. One of these questions was particularly poignant.

“How is it that ye have not seen what great things the Lord hath done for us?” (1 Ne. 7:11, italics added).

What great things. Those three words may define the difference between Nephi and his unbelieving brothers. In fact, just the punctuation at the end of this three-word phrase is the great differentiator, isn’t it?

I envision Nephi’s brothers adding a huge question mark at the end of this phrase, metaphorically stated in a big, bold font with a huge typeface. You can hear them asking, “What great things?” They saw no great things, only loss and sacrifice. The loss of their money, the loss of their home, the loss of their status. The loss of comfort and of all the worldly pleasures the Lord had led them from.

On the other hand, one can hear Nephi expounding on the great things the Lord had indeed done for them… Leading them away from destruction, leading them through the wilderness safely, protecting them from the dangers they’d faced, delivering the brass plates—which held the scriptures and genealogy they needed to preserve and build their family and society. Visions, visitations, protection, and preservation of God’s word—what great things! You can practically hear Nephi shout it!

Our own attitudes can shift, with just a change in punctuation, or an addition or omission of a single word.

“Why me?” becomes “Why not?”

“We’re doing that?” becomes “We’re doing this!”

“Can I?” becomes “I can!”

It doesn’t take much time or effort to find other examples—combinations of words, syllables, and squiggly dots and lines that become punctuation. Punctuation or phrasing that will make all the difference in gratitude, determination, confidence and comfort.

Easier said than done, right? Sure. But saying it is the start. Changing your language changes your mindset. The biggest voices bellowing at us, for better or for worse, are our own. Changing the tone, tenor, and a word—even a punctuation mark—can change our lives. It’s a start, getting us on the path to bigger and better decisions and, well, things.

Great things!

I Went Up into the Mountain

Nephi's People Near the Mountains

There’s just something singular about being in the mountains, isn’t there? I can go to beautiful places in my favorite cities and towns, see historical monuments, or go to a scenic park, but nothing compares to the solitude, peace, and perspective I gain when I get up to a higher elevation, away from the mundane cares and noise of city and suburban life.

I have great memories of mountain adventures I experienced in my youth… Campouts, fishing adventures, backpacking, trips to Grandpa and Grandma’s (who lived in the Sierra Nevada mountains just outside Nevada City). While the survival skills, fishing techniques, cardiovascular gains, and physical strength we attain in the mountains are great, they do not compare to the spiritual growth we can experience there.

Nephi had an epic vision, of which he wrote an extensive record. As he begins this account, he tells us that he was “caught away in the Spirit of the Lord… into an exceedingly high mountain.” In my view, you can’t overestimate the significance of this starting point for such a majestic vision. It was important to Nephi that he include this mountain scene.

Mountains are prominent throughout the scriptures. We have just a small portion of Jesus’ life and ministry recorded, yet mountains play a pronounced role in what is known about His life. He apparently took comfort there, and seemingly felt he could best commune with the Father from a mountain setting. Luke mentions that Christ was “wont” to go to the Mount of Olives—he went there often. After the Last Supper, Jesus sung hymns with his disciples on the Mount of Olives immediately before descending—literally and figuratively—to the Garden of Gethsemane, and all He faced there.

We read of Jesus going up to a mountain to pray on multiple occasions. He often taught his followers on mountains. He and Peter, James and John were transfigured on a mountain. Prior to calling his twelve apostles, Jesus went up into a mountain to pray. When he ordained the twelve, it was on a mountain. Satan certainly made an error in his trying to tempt Jesus, taking Him to a high mountain. This seemed to be a setting Jesus longed for, and one where He apparently felt closest to His Father.

Fun with the kids

Nephi, too, spent time in the mountains. At a turning point in the Book of Mormon, Nephi is told by the voice of the Lord to get up into the mountain. There, he was commanded and instructed to build the ship that would carry them to the promised land. Nephi tells us he “did go unto the mountain oft, and I did pray oft unto the Lord; wherefore the Lord showed unto me great things” (1 Ne. 18:3).

Me, fishing at age 9

I’ve had spiritual experiences in the mountains too, and the Lord has shown me great things there. One such experience stays with me, almost thirty years later. As a young man, I attended an early morning Easter Sunday meeting, on the side of a hill, watching the sun rise, and listening to testimonies being shared about the Savior—the Risen Son. I don’t recall the specific words spoken, but I remember the Spirit telling me Jesus Christ is real, and that He lived, suffered, and was resurrected for us—that His Atonement is real. This was with a group of people I didn’t know well at all—a new Church group in a new town. As I sat there with mostly total strangers, I’d never felt less alone—I felt God’s infinite love.

The Book of Mormon, and in particular Nephi, has taught me to seek the Lord, to pray often, and to draw near to Him. And an effective, enlightening way to do this is to ‘get up into the mountain.’ I wonder what great things the Lord is waiting to show to me and to you?