Being Able to Ask

Something I found unique in my studies was the ability for Nephi to say that he doesn't know. But that's not where he stopped! He would then ask for help to understand. You can see this trend throughout his writings, but I would like to focus on a few of them that stood out to me. 

In 1 Nephi 9:5 it writes, "commanded...for a wise purpose that I know not".  This reminded me of my days as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Every day we were to go out and try to find people to teach and help them understand the gospel. During this time I had the opportunity to teach a man named Rudy Reyes. 

Rudy was difficult. He would do what we asked, and after about four weeks of doing our commitments, he would stop. Not only stop but go to the Jehovah's Witnesses church and do what they asked. He was almost baptized while I was in his area, but kept on going to and fro between the two churches. Eventually, I left the area wondering why I spent so much time with Brother Rudy, with little to no evidence to show for it. 

Every after I left his area I would ask about him. One day the missionaries there told me that Brother Rudy had been baptized into the Jehovah's Witnesses church. I was so confused. This man knew our church was true, He had told me multiple times and you could tell that he was different. Why then did he have such a hard time acting on in? 

Fast forward to this Monday. I've been home from my mission for a while now, but I stay connected with some of my friends, Xryiel Saluta, from my mission on Facebook. One of these friends also knew and taught Rudy Reyes. He had the same experience as me. He had come in after I had and tried to help Rudy understand, saw the light in Rudy's eyes, and left without Rudy being ready to make further commitments. Well, Xryiel sent me a picture on Monday. It was of Brother Rudy and the current missionaries in his area at Brother Rudy's baptism.  

Needless to say, I was freaking out! Brother Rudy did it! After almost three years of being taught Rudy Reyes did it. He found his way. I didn't know back then that Rudy would be baptized. I had almost lost hope, especially when he was baptized into the Jehovah's Witnesses. But the Lord had other plans. Even though we didn't know, the Lord was able to help us see what to do next to help one of his choice followers come unto Him.

You're Never Really Alone

People say this all the time. I feel like the thought is so old, so redundant, and yet so vague that you probably know where this is going. God is there to help us. We just have to be smart enough to listen. 

I love the story of Lehi and Nephi in the Book of Mormon when they are asked to leave and go somewhere that they have never seen or even heard of. It says in the 1 Nephi 2:4, "And it came to pass that he departed into the wilderness". He being Lehi, and it wasn't just him. He brought his entire family that we know had at least six people in it. On top of that in 1 Nephi 4:6-7 Nephi is confronted with an unknown and he "nevertheless went forth". 

God does this thing, where He knows what we need and how to get it, but needs our trust for us to actually obtain this great prestige or ability. We need to talk a walk of faith in order to do so. But he'll never faith us. Just read 2 Nephi 7:10-11 if you want proof. The Lord is our light if we stay within it, He will bring us to where we need to go. It's always there and will never leave. The only way to lose is it so not look. 

This reminds me of a story I heard on my mission. It's called "Footprints in the Sand". It went like this:

One night I dreamed a dream.

As I was walking along the beach with my Lord.

Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life.

For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand,

One belonging to me and one to my Lord.

After the last scene of my life flashed before me,

I looked back at the footprints in the sand.

I noticed that at many times along the path of my life,

especially at the very lowest and saddest times,

there was only one set of footprints.

This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it.

"Lord, you said once I decided to follow you,

You'd walk with me all the way.

But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life,

there was only one set of footprints.

I don't understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me."

He whispered, "My precious child, I love you and will never leave you

Never, ever, during your trials and testings.

When you saw only one set of footprints,

It was then that I carried you."

Margaret Fishback Powers, 1964

The Lord won't leave us. In fact, when we really think that He's gone and left us for better children. That is when he is there, holding us the closest, guiding us to where we need to go.