Today's reading reminded me how much Heavenly Father loves me. He wants to bless me and I learned from reading about Laman and Lemuel's experience from Chapter 16-17 that often times when I am obedient to the Lord, I am blessed, but when I am disobedient, he chastises and teaches me what I need to know in order to correct and come back into full communion with His will. Nephi had to talk to his brothers about their disobedience and it upset them. When they repented then the Lord started to bless them.
I want to always strive to be obedient to Heavenly Father. This life is full of tests, temptations, and trials. I can sometimes feel like Laman and Lemuel, or the daughters of Ishmael who worried, complained, lost faith, and wanted to "go home to Jerusalem", except my home is Kentucky and I am a Washington State transplant! Just kidding (kinda). So because I am likening the scriptures unto myself, I wonder. What is my Liahona in 2025? I'd say it is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price, my Patriarchal Blessing, Conference Talks, Firesides, Sacrament Meeting, Family Home Evening, Come Follow Me Program, Prayer, and any and all avenues of our faith to lead me in the right direction back towards Heavenly Father.
Thinking about some of the trials that Lehi's family endured, especially hunger, it reminds me of times in my life when I have had trials that have tested my very Testimony of Christ. Is He still aware of me? Am I still important to Him? Am I being "left behind" in this life. But then I realize that from these readings, I need to stay faithful, plead with Him for his direction, and his Light in my life. Just as God promised to guide Nephi and his family and be a guide by day and a ligbt by night, I do have that same promise from God. He will NOT abandon or leave my side, he wants to bless me, and my obedience is my outward proof that I believe Him and I believe in Him.
One thing I love about Nephi's faith was that after he broke his bow, had no food, and his family was upset he not once gave up. He petitioned the Lord and then went to work. He did not just sit and complain, he looked for a solution. In my life I can do that. I can make choices that will help to assist me when I am struggling. I don't have to sit down and give up. I can work through trials and come out the other side with the Lords help.
Chapter 17 is the story of Nephi building a ship to take his family on the water towards the Promised Land. It's the story of how God showed him how to build the ship without plans, how his brothers wanted to kill him, and how he was protected and saved by God. The Liahona stopped working, the waters were dangerous, everyone was getting sick, and Nephi was tied up. When his brothers untied him, the Liahona started to work and the seas calmed. I can learn from this story that when I don't resist how the Lord wants to help me, I can prevent undue suffering. Not that all suffering will be removed but that God can help me when I get out of my own way and let him help me. Sometimes I am my own "Laman and Lemuel" in life.
There is so much in these two chapters and I hope that if you are following the reading with me you will take your time in Chapter 17. God wants to bless us, protect us, and answer us. If God wants us to do things, he will make a way for us to accomplish them.
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