Be an Example of the Word

1 Nephi 15

Nephi returns after his vision and attempts to teach his brothers about the Gentiles in the latter days, the gathering of Israel. He interprets the vision of the tree of life.

Several years ago as I was reading my scriptures, I was searching for Promises and Costs. I wrote a couple in the margins of this chapter. One was “God will reveal truth”. The cost: Ask (v3, 8, 11). It is a rather simple thing. “Have ye inquired of the Lord?” Do you really want to know the truth? If so, sincerely ask Heavenly Father to show you. Then do those things Nephi did. Will it be as powerful as having a personal guide? Probably not, because we have our own personal guide in the scriptures. That is where we find the truth.

The second Promise is “They would not be destroyed by Satan”. Cost: “Hearken to scriptures; word of God” v24. How can we hearken if we do not read? How can we hold fast if we never read. It is critical that we gain a love for the scriptures in order to provide safety for ourselves from the fiery darts of the adversary. If we do not, then blindness is what we can expect and we will be led away to destruction.

The day will come when we will all be judged by our works (v32). Are those works connected to our reading the scriptures? Without a doubt! It is because when we read and then heed, we will change. As we change, our focus will change with us. We will want to be more like our Savior, i.e. kinder, more aware of the needs of those around us because they are our brothers and sisters. We will strive to be examples of righteousness. It is a natural process – slow, but natural.

What were my thoughts as I pondered this morning on this topic? I have to admit that sometimes as a parent and grandparent, I don't speak up. A perfect example is Sunday when we had dinner with one of our children's family. Something irreverent was said. We quickly changed the subject. Good for us. But I believe we missed a perfect opportunity to talk about modesty in not only dress, but speech. I kick myself, but I will try to do better in the future.