1 Nephi 1:20
. . . 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
I have heard this called the "thesis statement" of the Book of Mormon. The next few chapters extrapolate on this thesis, showing Nephi and his brethren being delivered from the hands of Laban in order to obtain the plates of Brass. Nephi is careful to point out it was by faith that this was accomplished. Nephi also is careful to point out that when the Lord gives a commandment, and His children do all they can to obey that commandment, He "prepares the way" (3:7) and "provides the means" (17:3) so they can accomplish what He has commanded them.
This theme of deliverance is a powerful one. I believe the Lord can, through faith, make us "mighty," even unto "deliverance" from a number of forms of bondage, be it temporal or spiritual. Whether it's credit card debt, addiction to drugs or pornography, mental or physical disability, the bondage of sin or abuse, the Lord can deliver us. In 7:17, Nephi is given the strength to physically break the bonds of his brethren, and sometimes that is what happens. We're given the strength to overcome our challenges and free ourselves from our bondage.
However, as we'll find out on December 3rd, when Nephi is bound by his brethren on the ship (18:11), there are times in our lives when, through no choice of our own, we have to suffer through trials and afflictions, sometimes for much longer than we'd prefer. Sometimes the Lord doesn't remove our trials or challenges, but His "deliverance" comes by strengthening us so we can more easily bear the burdens placed upon us.
I don't think it's by coincidence the story of Nephi and his family appears at the front of the Book of Mormon. There is so much here that is applicable to our journey through life. We each have a wilderness through which to travel, and Nephi, through numerous comparisons and contrasts, shows what kind of attitudes and actions bring joy and success on that journey (despite hardships), and which kind bring misery and sorrow. The Book of Mormon is full of these kinds of contrasts, showing the results of faithfulness and obedience, as well as the fruits of rebellion and wickedness.
One last thought. In 5:22 Nephi reflects,
. . .it was wisdom in the Lord that we should carry [the plates of brass] with us, as we journeyed in the wilderness towards the land of promise.
The Lord had Nephi and his brethren go to great lengths to restore the Brass plates to a righteous branch of the house of Israel. As my wife and I read through today's reading we imagined Lehi and his family taking time to study the plates of brass while they tarried in the Valley of Lemuel, and what new doctrines and lessons they must have learned from that study. In our own wilderness, it is "wisdom in the Lord" that we should carry the scriptures with us. As Nephi testifies, he "searched" them, and found them to be "desirable," even of "great worth."
I hope as you immerse yourself in the Book of Mormon during NaBoMoReMo, that you also find the Book of Mormon to be of great worth to you personally, as you travel through the wilderness of life.
Until tomorrow!
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