1 Nephi 16

I always love when I read that Nephi says he was exceedingly blessed of the Lord when talking about his wife. He was trying to be brief, and only include those things of most worth in spiritual matters. But he included that he loved his wife. 

In verse 16 Nephi says they followed the directions of the ball which led them in the most fertile parts of the wilderness.  Not only did they do what the Lord commanded, but they did it His way, and that made it all work. In order to see what the ball said, they had to keep looking at it, they couldn’t just keep going on. It feels like that’s what I end up doing a lot. I know what the right direction is, and then I just try and go do it myself. I need to keep, and constantly, turning to the Lord for His direction. Like in parenting, and wifeing and Visiting Teaching, and choir. I need to learn to rely on Him more and then I’ll be in the most fertile parts of the wilderness instead of feeling like I’m wandering in the desert.

It’s interesting that Laman and Lemuel were mad at Nephi for breaking his bow because they got no food. Was his the only bow? I think probably not, but it’s so easy to focus on one thing and blame it, when things go wrong. And it’s usually not myself!

Why did Nephi go to Lehi to know where to hunt for food instead of going straight the Lord himself?

 I think it’s important that Nephi didn’t sit around complaining, he never complained. And in this case, he went and did something about it, without doubting or getting angry. What amazing faith!