We just finished reading the first book in the Book of Mormon. As I pondered, I thought to myself, Laman & Lemuel “did” all the same things as Nephi…they left Jerusalem; they went back to get the plates; they returned to the wilderness; they went back to Jerusalem to get Ishmael’s family; they traveled in the wilderness for years; they helped build the boat; they sailed to the promised land.
How could Laman & Lemuel “go and do” the exact same things as Nephi and yet be so far off the mark?
I think there were a few key scriptures in this book that illustrate their lack of understanding who they were serving and who they were obeying:
I Nephi 3:5 “And now, behold thy brothers murmur, saying it is a hard thing which I have required of them; but behold I have not required it of them, but it is a commandment of the Lord”.
I Nephi 7:20-21 “And it came to pass that they were sorrowful, because of their wickedness, insomuch that they did bow down before me, and did plead with me that I would forgive them of the thing that they had done against me. And it came to pass that I did frankly forgive them all that they had done, and I did exhort them that they would pray unto the Lord their God for forgiveness…”
I Nephi 17:54-55 “And it came to pass that I stretched forth my hand unto my brethren, and they did not wither before me; but the Lord did shake them, even according to the word which he had spoken. And now, they said: We know of a surety that the Lord is with thee, for we know that it is the power of the Lord that has shaken us (but even as they claim to understand that it is the Lord’s power, they bow down to Nephi, as though that power were his…). And they fell down before me, and were about to worship me, but I would not suffer them, saying: I am thy brother, yea, even thy younger brother; wherefore, worship the Lord they God, and honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long in the land which the Lord thy God shall give thee.”
Laman and Lemuel missed the mark because they failed to realize that all along it was the Lord who was commanding them, directing them, and delivering them.
Do we ever do the same?
Do we fail to see every command to “go and do” as a commandment from God?
Do we miss opportunities to serve because we just don’t think it’s that important, or that it’s just not convenient for us right now, or that some day we’ll serve, or that the person needing our service will get along just fine without us, or that someone else will take care of it?
The Lord summed it all up in just a few short verses when He taught us who we serve and who we obey:
Matthew 25:34-40 “Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”
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