Sorry, Nephi...

Jan. 27, 2017

Lately, I’ve been attempting a new approach to scripture study.  I’m still trying to make sure that I can get on track with it, but I try to listen to a talk from general conference once a week and then find scriptures daily that correlate with the topic that I can ponder throughout the week. It helps me make the scriptures more applicable, because it has always been a struggle for me…admittedly, I fell asleep on many occasions during studies on my mission, and before that, I even fell asleep in sacrament meeting! Hopefully making this an active part of my life will help me to treasure the scriptures more.

Going along with that fun little theme of applying the scriptures, I think it goes along perfectly with what I learned in class this past week.

But first, a confession…I used to not be able to stand Nephi.

I couldn’t really tell you why now. Even a few months ago on my mission I remember trash-talking Nephi, because he just frustrated me to no end. He was just too good. I like to visualize my stories, and Nephi just reminded me too much of self-righteous individuals. This is my ode to Nephi; my apology to him, because in truth: Nephi is a really great guy.

And I officially decided he was human this past week in the cute little exchange he has with our favorite stubborn idiots Laman and Lemuel: by shutting them down after his own vision when he asks them, “Have ye inquired of the Lord?”

Burn to Laman and Lemuel in 1 Nephi 15 right there. Why does this matter? To me, this is why that phrase is so telling of Nephi’s character, and one of the reasons I’ve learned to like him: he’s actually the perfect example of someone who has complete faith and trust in the Lord. Why that never hit me before, I don’t know. But Nephi’s story is the perfect beginning to the Book of Mormon because it sets up what having the full gospel can do for you when you apply it. He sucks you into the story, all by just being himself. He isn’t passive in his faith, but active, and chooses to act. His words aren’t because he’s self-righteous, but because he believes in the best righteous power: Our lovely Heavenly Father! So thank you, Nephi, for pumping all of us up to read the Book of Mormon: I have newfound motivation because of you.