Have I really never written on this chapter before? This is one of my favorite chapters in the Book of Mormon. Nephi, in effect, has been beaten down – at least temporarily. Wendy Ulrich, Ph.D., M.B.A., said once in a RS environment that he showed signs of depression. This was in a day when substances weren’t causing depression, so you know he was suffering. He felt like a wretched man, sorrowed and grieved because of his own iniquities. He was a good man! Yet he was down on himself. (v17)
He was tempted and felt he was sinful (v18). What possible sins might he have felt he possessed? Well, he has some pretty evil brothers pounding on him constantly. Wouldn’t the natural man at least wish they would fall off a cliff or something? Maybe even pray that Heavenly Father would somehow strike them with his all-powerful hand and get THEM out of HIS misery? Could Nephi be blamed if he’d had these thoughts – even if they were just fleeting? My guess is his thoughts weren’t even that bad.
Then Nephi REMEMBERS. He remembers what God had done for him all these many years of wandering out of Jerusalem, their journey over the waters and to the promised land and living among his enemies. He had been supported, led through afflictions, and preserved upon the waters (v20). He had been filled with God’s love (v21). His enemies had been confounded (v22). The Lord heard his cries by day and sent him knowledge by visions at night (v23). He had angels minister to him (v24). He beheld great things – even too great to write about.
Then he asks himself the questions: “. . . if the Lord in his condescension unto the children of men hath visited men in so much mercy (himself included), why should my heart weep and my soul linger in the valley of sorrow, and my flesh waste away, and my strength slacken, because of mine afflictions.” (v26) In other words, “do I really have anything to be sad about?” He sees the destructive nature of his depression – “. . . my strength slacken. . .” He could see he was losing power, aka the Spirit.
In effect, he calls his soul to repentance and says, “Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul (v28)."
What does Nephi teach us in this chapter? He teaches us that depression over difficulties is not a new thing and that it is of no value. He teaches us how to overcome the depression, i.e. remember the blessings you have, remember when you knew the Lord was by your side in support of all that you were doing and then remember that he will continue to be there for you. I’ve said so many times to my son that the Lord has been there for him. Why would he pull out now? If it was right yesterday, it is still right today. Depression can be brought on by forgetting that God is there for you. I realize there is such a thing as clinical depression, and we need to respect that. But sometimes, we work ourselves into a depression. Remembering, turning to God for help and then calling ourselves to repentance and moving forward might just be a better plan.
