Because he knew he was dying, Lehi counseled and blessed his children and grandchildren for the last time (2 Nephi 4:3–12). Yesterday during Sunday School, our teacher asked what counsel we would give to our posterity if we were close to death. I would counsel two things. First, the commandments of God are a gift to His children on earth to allow us to be happy on earth and lead us back to Him. Second, we ought to cherish our family members, since we don't know what tomorrow will bring. Love more, judge less, and extend this charity to members of our greater human family. It would make the world a better place.
Laman and Lemuel and the sons of Ishmael did not take Lehi's advice to follow Nephi and keep the commandments. Nephi, being the leader and prophet talked to them about it. Once again they became angry (2 Nephi 4:13). This led to one of the most beautiful passages in the Book of Mormon, “the Psalm of Nephi.”
“My soul delighteth in the things of the Lord; and my heart pondereth [them] continually” 2 Nephi 4:15–16.) Nephi delighted and pondered upon in the scriptures and things of the Lord. This means he devoted time to read the Word of God and consider the meaning therein. Using Nephi's life as an example we do to make time to ponder the things of the Lord, which will help us draw closer to Him and keep the adversary at bay.
I always seem to admire the person in the scriptures that I'm studying at the moment. Nephi submits to the will of God with righteousness, obedience, and humility. Nevertheless, he sees himself as a “wretched man” whose “soul grieveth because of [his] iniquities” 2 Nephi 4:17, 27; 1 Nephi 10:6. It is right and important to recognize our fallen nature before God. Even the best of us is a sinner and must rely on the grace of God and the Atonement of Jesus Christ to remove our sins and mistakes. “Just as a man does not really desire food until he is hungry, so he does not desire the salvation of Christ until he knows why he needs Christ. No one adequately and properly knows why he needs Christ until he understands and accepts the doctrine of the Fall and its effect upon all mankind” Ezra Taft Benson, Ensign, May 1987, 85.
As Nephi, we can find hope despite feeling “encompassed about” by temptation and sin if we trust in the Lord 2 Nephi 4:18–19. The Lord helped Nephi and will help us, support us, lead us through our afflictions, fill us with love, confound our enemies, hear our cries, and allow us to be led by the Spirit if we choose and allow it 2 Nephi 4:20–25.
I have received these blessings from the Lord many, many times, which have helped me through difficult times. The death of loved ones, errant children, illness and injury, loneliness and stress, and persecution have been a few of my trials that were made lighter with the help of the Lord.
Even with this experience and knowledge of the gospel, it is sometimes easy to yield to sorrow and sin 2 Nephi 4:26–27. We can choose to overcome sorrow and temptation by keeping our focus on Jesus, His Atonement, and His Grace 2 Nephi 4:28–30.
Nephi spent the first several verses of the psalm lamenting his behavior. 2 Nephi 4:15–30). Then he became prayerful (2 Nephi 4:30–35). This is an excellent pattern for prayer. First Nephi praises God. Then he acknowledges that God will “deliver [him] out of the hands of [his] enemies.” He pleaded with the Lord to make him “shake at the appearance of sin.” This means to purify his heart so that he will abhor sin 2 Nephi 4:31; Mosiah 5:2; Alma 13:12. He is determined to keep the commandments or “walk in the path of the low valley” and “be strict in the plain road” with the Lord's assistance (2 Nephi 4:32). One of the most descriptive and strengthening metaphors is this: “encircle [us] around in the robe of [His] righteousness.” That is my constant prayer (2 Nephi 4:33).
"Most of us are born with thorns in the flesh, some more visible, some more serious than others. We all seem to have susceptibilities to one disorder or another, but whatever our susceptibilities, we have the will and the power to control our thoughts and our actions. This must be so. God has said that he holds us accountable for what we do and what we think, so our thoughts and actions must be controllable by our agency. Once we have reached the age or condition of accountability, the claim ‘I was born that way’ does not excuse actions or thoughts that fail to conform to the commandments of God. We need to learn how to live so that a weakness that is mortal will not prevent us from achieving the goal that is eternal." Dallin H. Oaks
Nephi promises to praise God, pray always, and not trust in man 2 Nephi 4:30, 34–35. When we put our “trust in the arm of flesh” we are sure to be led astray and fall. Instead we should study God's Word, ponder unceasingly, pray always, repent often, and build our faith and trust in the Lord, Jesus Christ.
