Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Priorities
in 1 Nephi, Nephi and brothers go to Jerusalem twice. First, they go to get the plates. Then they go to get Ishmael's family. Both are clearly important, but they put the word of God first. I think that reinforces where my priorities should be.
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Giving away our precious things
I just read 1 Nephi 3. In this chapter, Nephi and his brothers go to Jerusalem to get the brass plates. I've read and heard this story a hundred times, but i just had a different insight into what it means. Nephi and his brothers make three attempts to get the plates. First, Laman asks for the plates. Next, they try to buy the plates. Finally, Nephi goes to get the plates, trusting the Lord to help him. We always talk about this story in the same terms - first the oldest brother gets a chance, next Nephi tries to do it on his own, then at last, Nephi decides to trust the Lord.
The first one was necessary to give Laman the opportunity to follow the Lord, the second was a throwaway attempt, and the third was the one that counts. I just realized that the second one was really important. Nephi tells his brothers that they are leaving Jerusalem because the Lord commanded them. They need the plates, but they don't need their riches to be able to follow the Lord, so they try to trade their riches for something of more value. Nephi and his brothers gave up their gold, their silver, and all their precious things so they could obtain the word of the Lord. Nephi took a stand - the things of the Lord are more important than the things of the world. His brothers went along with it. They did something the rich young man in the New Testament wouldn't do - they gave up all they had so they could follow the Lord.
If we are to truly follow the Lord, don't we have to give up our precious things? Clearly, this doesn't mean giving away everything we own. If everyone did that, we would be in dire straits. But shouldn't I give away the preciousness of them? Shouldn't I relegate my things, my hobbies, my time wasters to the status where they belong? I shouldn't let worldly things become precious things. I don't think the Lord wants me to give up everything,but I should be willing to give up anything in my life if he asks it of me.
In the story, Nephi is able to follow the spirit and get the plates, only after he has given up his precious things. What might I accomplish if I do the same?
The first one was necessary to give Laman the opportunity to follow the Lord, the second was a throwaway attempt, and the third was the one that counts. I just realized that the second one was really important. Nephi tells his brothers that they are leaving Jerusalem because the Lord commanded them. They need the plates, but they don't need their riches to be able to follow the Lord, so they try to trade their riches for something of more value. Nephi and his brothers gave up their gold, their silver, and all their precious things so they could obtain the word of the Lord. Nephi took a stand - the things of the Lord are more important than the things of the world. His brothers went along with it. They did something the rich young man in the New Testament wouldn't do - they gave up all they had so they could follow the Lord.
If we are to truly follow the Lord, don't we have to give up our precious things? Clearly, this doesn't mean giving away everything we own. If everyone did that, we would be in dire straits. But shouldn't I give away the preciousness of them? Shouldn't I relegate my things, my hobbies, my time wasters to the status where they belong? I shouldn't let worldly things become precious things. I don't think the Lord wants me to give up everything,but I should be willing to give up anything in my life if he asks it of me.
In the story, Nephi is able to follow the spirit and get the plates, only after he has given up his precious things. What might I accomplish if I do the same?
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