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!