1 Nephi 1

In keeping with my goal, I thought that I would start today rather than putting off things for tomorrow. I thought that maybe you'd like to read along, or have quick access to the chapter I'm on. Thus, here is the link to 1 Nephi 1.

I feel that 1 Nephi 1:1 is the most read scripture of The Book of Mormon by people who have good intentions of reading the entire book. When you think about that fact, when you realize that this entire book was organized by God through His people, you face a question: Why would God want this verse to be the first?

It begins by introducing a family. Nephi and his parents. It shows he was taught in the learning of his father. That he has seen afflictions, or hardships, in his life. But Nephi goes on to say that he was still extremely blessed, even if life was hard at some points. So he creates a record, or keeps a journal, to help us understand God and Nephi's personal relation with Him. Nephi wants us to know both of His goodness and the purposes of God we may not understand (or the mysteries of God).
This first verse truly also begins to explain what the purpose of the LDS church is:

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized by God to assist in His work to bring to pass the salvation and exaltation of His children. . . .

In fulfilling its purpose to help individuals and families qualify for exaltation, the Church focuses on divinely appointed responsibilities. These include helping members live the gospel of Jesus Christ, gathering Israel through missionary work, caring for the poor and needy, and enabling the salvation of the dead by building temples and performing vicarious ordinances. 

So Nephi had parents. And guess what? I have parents too! Families are important. At Mormon.org it says:

The Family is Central to God's Plan“No other success can compensate for failure in the home.” –David O. McKay 

It's no stretch to say that a person has a serious advantage in life if they come from a loving, supportive home. Many people still succeed though they come from less-than-ideal family situations, but having our basic needs met, knowing that our parents love us and learning life lessons at home make all the challenges of day-to-day living that much easier to face. Likely, as an adult you want a happy home for your family. 

This is no coincidence. God organizes us into families so that we can grow up in happiness and safety, and so that we can learn to love others selflessly—the key to true joy. Within the family is the best place to learn to love others the way Heavenly Father loves each one of us. 

God's Church exists to help families gain eternal blessings. We believe the greatest blessing He gives us is the ability to return to live with Him in heaven with our families. We follow our Heavenly Father's will because that is how we earn this blessing.

So families are important. But realizing your challenges and still realizing how blessed you are is also a fantastic skill to have. I just really love this verse. I also really love the last verse just as much.

". . . But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance." 1 Nephi 1:20

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles described the “tender mercies of the Lord”:

“I testify that the tender mercies of the Lord are real and that they do not occur randomly or merely by coincidence. Often the Lord’s timing of His tender mercies helps us to both discern and acknowledge them. 

“. . . The Lord’s tender mercies are the very personal and individualized blessings, strength, protection, assurances, guidance, loving-kindness, consolation, support, and spiritual gifts which we receive from and because of and through the Lord Jesus Christ. Truly the Lord suits ‘his mercies according to the conditions of the children of men’ (D&C 46:15). 

“. . . One of the ways whereby the Savior comes to each of us is through His abundant and tender mercies. For instance, as you and I face challenges and tests in our lives, the gift of faith and an appropriate sense of personal confidence that reaches beyond our own capacity are two examples of the tender mercies of the Lord. Repentance and forgiveness of sins and peace of conscience are examples of the tender mercies of the Lord. And the persistence and the fortitude that enable us to press forward with cheerfulness through physical limitations and spiritual difficulties are examples of the tender mercies of the Lord” (in Conference Report, Apr. 2005, 105; or Ensign, May 2005, 99–100).

I love the tender mercies of the Lord. They happen all the time. You've just got to look for them.