Lehi the Prophet

I was studying the lesson for this week's Come Follow Me, and I listened to a couple of podcasts. I liked these insights.

In 1 Nephi we learn that when we have faith and exercise our faith in God, he will help us during our uncomfortable situations. In a covenant relationship one can do hard things because we are yoked with the divine. Nephi teaches us that they made it to the promised land because they listened to God, they did hard things with God’s help, and they kept that covenant relationship with God.

2 Nephi 1

Lehi left Jerusalem, his land, house and possessions, he was very obedient and followed what had God commanded him. In verses 16  and 17 we read that Lehi had anxiety of his soul, that his heart was weighed down with sorrow and was fearful because of the hardness of their hearts (Laman and Lemuel). Lehi experienced many difficulties even when he was keeping the commandments. We shouldn’t expect that life is going to be perfect and that everything will work out just how we want it. Life is challenging. Shery Dew said:" It is not living the gospel that is hard, it is life that is hard.”

Lehi suffered many afflictions but he was always faithful to the covenants he had made with God. Even during those difficult times he felt the love of Jesus Christ.  In verse 15 Lehi says, “The Lord hath redeemed my soul from hell, I have beheld His glory and I am encircled about eternally in the arms of his love.” 

2 Nephi 3

Our Heavenly Father’s plan is to use the House of Israel to bless the earth. Having adversity doesn’t mean we are being punished. When we are in a covenant relationship with God we can have absolute confidence that God will help us during our adversity.

2 Nephi 3:13

He shall be made strong

God makes and keeps his promises. When we are struggling we can go to the Book of Mormon and read how He kept His promises in the past which means He will keep them in the future.

The Plan of God has been going on all along and we have a role to play in this plan because we are part of the covenant family. We join the covenant family when we are baptized.

2 Nephi 4

Nephi in his difficult times turned to the scriptures.