1 Nephi 7

Whenever I begin read Chapter 7, it makes me chuckle. This chapter is where Nephi and his brethren return to Jerusalem to bring Ishmael and his family out to the wilderness with them. Or, more exactly, bring Ishmael's daughters out so Nephi and his brothers could marry them (1 Nephi 7:2). Now, in the past Laman and Lemuel both have murmured against the commandments of their father. They obey them grudgingly. However, this time, nobody complained at all as they obeyed (1 Nephi 7:3). I'm pretty sure they were quite excited to go collect their future wives.

It was only on the way back to the camp that they once again began to be rebellious (1 Nephi 7:6). Nephi then asks them questions trying to bring them back into remembrance of God who has gone so much for them (1 Nephi 7:8-15). I really like verse 12:

Yea, and how is it that ye have forgotten that the Lord is able to do all things according to his will, for the children of men, if it so be that they exercise faith in him? Wherefore, let us be faithful to him.

There is often times when I worry about life, the future and how exactly I'm supposed to face things I fear. But this question from Nephi really causes you to stop and think. It helps me turn back to the Lord in prayer and ask for help through these difficult struggles and worries in my life. We have to stay firm in our testimonies and live by them. We have to be faithful to God. Things will work out great. Just maybe not the way you first imagined.

"Ye have choice" (1 Nephi 7:15). We always have a choice to make. Between good and bad, good and better, better and best. We should to our best to make the right choice.

Nephi is pretty great in teaching us a lot of lessons, for after his brothers and soon to be brothers-in-law tried to kill him twice, he still "frankly forgive them all that they had done" (1 Nephi 7:21). Personally, I never want to face having to struggle with giving that sort of forgiveness. It would be hard. But if Nephi can forgive them for almost killing him, then I'm certain I should also be frankly forgiving in all areas of my life.