Throughout my life, learning of the obedience and diligence
of men and women like Nephi shaped in me a belief that they were real-life spiritual
superheroes, perfect in their faith and resolve. Life’s experience, as well as
further study and prayer, have taught me these people had the same doubts,
fears, and discouragement that we all encounter in life. As I've pondered some of
Nephi’s admitted struggles, he has become even more endearing to me.
Nephi thought it was important we know he faced both
afflictions and blessings throughout his life—the first verse he writes
foreshadows the heights and depths he will take us through as we read his
account. Think of it—he went from a life of privilege to that of a wandering
pilgrim. He was commanded do to things that were super-human and beyond
comprehension! In his family life, he experienced great joy and the worst
situations imaginable—attempted murder and ultimately, war among his
own family.
Nephi writes of “being sorrowful” and of their difficulties time
and again; when trying to retrieve the brass plates as commanded, when they are
without food and permanent shelter, and when he is unable to convince his
brothers of the goodness (and reality) of God. He speaks of their affliction as
family members died, and as women bore and raised their children in the hardest
of circumstances. Nephi does not go into great detail; in fact he states that
it was not possible to write of all their afflictions and difficulty.
Nephi writes with sadness of the afflictions and challenges
faced by his younger brothers, who witness much anger and violence at young
ages. He shares how others were punished for ‘sticking up’ for him, or pleading
on his behalf when he was under attack by his wicked, scheming brothers. He
writes of his wife pleading tearfully for his life, and the tears and prayers
of his own children, begging for Nephi’s release at the hand of his treacherous
brothers—their uncles.
Perhaps the worst moments and deepest sorrows he endured
could not be put into words. While his family wandered in the wilderness, and
when he was probably in his early- to mid-twenties, Nephi saw in vision his
entire posterity—all of his seed and family—overcome by the seed of his wicked
brothers. In the same vision he saw the family of Laman and Lemuel ultimately
suffer, become scattered, and very nearly become extinct. Imagine going on for
another fifty-plus years, striving, trying, preaching, begging, praying, and
seemingly never giving up on
attempting to convince his people to come unto Christ, while knowing, from a
mortal perspective at least, it was all
in vain—they were going to perish.
Nephi’s lesson to us, however, is that we love and strive
and keep pressing forward, even while knowing we’ll face seemingly insurmountable
challenges. If he could endure all he did, knowing the mortal calamity that
would be the result for his posterity, we can keep going, can’t we? Nephi
maintained an eternal perspective, knowing Christ’s atonement meant all would
be resurrected, and there is spiritual hope and repentance available to each of
us—and that progression does not end with this life.
2 Nephi 4 is a favorite of mine—it includes the so-called
“Psalm of Nephi.” This is as much detail, or at least depth of expression, that
I’ve found in any of his writings. Nephi describes his heart groaning for his
sins, he speaks of his afflictions, and he shares with us all the feelings of
his heart, including pain, anguish, and sorrow. In the same breath, he
demonstrates again his great faith, his resolution, his love of God, his
awareness of His grace, his will to press on. The prayerful, positive self-talk
he shares with us should be revisited again and again!
It is easy to look at a man like Nephi, and assume he was
better than us, different from us, and that he was somehow impervious to the
frustrations of life. However, upon closer study, we see he endured more
challenge, frustration, and temptation than most of us will experience in our
lifetimes. I’m grateful we have his record and example to learn from—it helps
me get through the times when my own heart “sorroweth.” And mostly, I’m
grateful God has blessed me with the knowledge of the Book of Mormon and of His
plan of happiness. Like Nephi, I know
I can get through today!
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