Jacob 1 - That We Might Persuade Them to Come Unto Christ I'm taking an online economics class right now, which prompted me to think of the definition of economics in the context of the scriptures. Economics is the study of the allocation of scarce resources. In the case of Nephi and his successor Jacob, the plates upon which they engraved their record was a scarce resource. They were costly to make and difficult to engrave, and instilling a tradition of passing them through generations was surely cumbersome. Recognizing the great importance of spiritual things and the challenge of maintaining records, Nephi instructed Jacob to prioritize religious instruction saying, " if there were preaching which was sacred, or revelation which was great, or prophesying, that I should engraven the heads of them upon these plates, and touch upon them as much as it were possible, for Christ’s sake, and for the sake of our people" (Jacob 1:4). This priority was not only reflecte
Nephi is given the daunting task of constructing a ship to carry his family across the ocean. Like Nephi, the Lord asks us to do things that are beyond our current knowledge and ability with a promise that he will help us: "And if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them (1 Nephi 17:3)
From the experience of Nephi and his family, we can also see that the Lord grants us joy in our trials and certainty in his direction when we follow his commandments. When Nephi and his family reached the seashore, a brief respite before crossing the ocean, they enjoyed the break and celebrated their progress: "Notwithstanding we had suffered many afflictions
and much difficulty, yea, even so much that we cannot write them all,
we were exceedingly rejoiced when we came to the seashore; and we called
the place Bountiful, because of its much fruit" (1 Nephi 17:6). Even in the middle of profound trials, we can experience joy by looking for and celebrating milestones.
Keeping the commandments comes with two coequal promises: to eventually receive the blessings held in store, and to feel certain of the Lord's guidance in the process. The Lord promised Nephi, "I
will also be your light
in the wilderness; and I will prepare the way before you, if it so be
that ye shall keep my commandments; wherefore, inasmuch as ye shall keep
my commandments ye shall be led towards the promised land; and ye shall
know that it is by me that ye are led" (1 Nephi 17:13). Both of these promises are realized on an ongoing basis before the blessings of obedience are received. The Lord did not say the would arrive at the promised land (which they did), but that they would be led towards it on a sustained basis. Similarly, certainty in the Lord's guidance, and knowledge that the promises of the Lord are true, does not have to wait until the promised blessings are realized or fulfilled. We can know that it is by the Lord that we are led, not that we were led when it is over.
This chapter also offers one of my favorite patterns for acting on personal direction from God. Nephi recounts, "the voice of the Lord came unto me, saying: Arise, and get thee into the mountain. And it came to pass that I arose and went up into the mountain, and cried unto the Lord" (1 Nephi 17:7). Mountains are often used as a metaphor for the temple, or in more general terms, a holy and elevated place separated from the world. I have had profound spiritual experiences on literal mountains among the beauties of nature as well as sanctifies buildings, like chapels and temples. Removing ourselves from our mundane daily surroundings can put us in a different frame of mind, and signal to God that we are prepared and invested in learning what He would have us know.
Nephi received from the Lord what must have felt like an unimaginable task: to build a ship to cross the ocean. God might as well have asked me to command a mission to Mars. Nephi's response reveals a keen understanding of our role and responsibility in realizing God's promises. He said, "Lord, whither shall I go that I may find ore to molten, that I may make tools to construct the ship after the manner which thou hast shown unto me?" (1 Nephi 17:9). He asked for direction and resources. He did not even ask for tools, but the raw materials to make tools. While the Lord guides and helps us, he lightens our burdens not by taking them away, but by making us more able. Responsibility for the work still lies with us, and in most cases learning and growth cannot be fast tracked, but he will empower and enable us as we ask in faith.
Nephi's attitude about building a ship is a powerful example of faith and the kind of confidence we can have in the Lord when trying to keep his commandments and follow His counsel: "And I said unto them: If
God had commanded me to do all things I could do them. If he should
command me that I should say unto this water, be thou earth, it should
be earth; and if I should say it, it would be done. And now, if the Lord has such great power, and has wrought so many miracles among the children of men, how is it that he cannot instruct me, that I should build a ship?" (1 Nephi 17:50-51)
God's promises of direction, confidence, and resources are extended to all of His children and are predicated only on our desire and righteousness. "Behold, the Lord esteemeth all flesh in one; he that is righteous is favored of God" (1 Nephi 17:35). While He treasures all of His children and imbues each of us with infinite worth, He privileges, or holds special blessings for those who obey Him. I think this is what Nephi is saying when he asserts that "He loveth those who will have him to be their God" (1 Nephi 17:40).
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