1 Nephi 17-19

As many of you know I have set a goal to try and read the lessons for gospel doctrine. I am already so grateful for this desire that has moved me to action. I am enjoying the study of the Book of Mormon and I am learning so much. The other day I heard the quote that our generations greatest sin will be that of ingratitude. As I was reading in 1 Nephi chapter 17 I realized that this is very true. In verses 1-6 Nephi says,

1 And it came to pass that we did again take our journey in the wilderness; and we did travel nearly eastward from that time forth. And we did travel and wade through much affliction in the wilderness; and our women did bear children in the wilderness.

2 And so great were the blessings of the Lord upon us, that while we did live upon raw meat in the wilderness, our women did give plenty of suck for their children, and were strong, yea, even like unto the men; and they began to bear their journeyings without murmurings.

3 And thus we see that the commandments of God must be fulfilled. And if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them; wherefore, he did provide means for us while we did sojourn in the wilderness.

4 And we did sojourn for the space of many years, yea, even eight years in the wilderness.

As I read this passage of scripture in the temple Wednesday a thought struck me. We may have trials and we may be under all kinds of stress and pressures in our lives, but do we take the time to be truly thankful for the little blessing of having food to eat? Are we thankful that we have strength? Are we thankful to able to follow his commandments?

After taking note of the gratitude of Nephi I realized that one of the large differences between Nephi and Laman and Lemuel was Nephi's gratitude to the Lord. Laman and Lemuel did all that was asked of them even if sometimes it took great force, but they always murmured and doubted the Lord. I mean let's look at it. All of the family travelled in the wilderness and bore children in the wilderness. I don't know about you all, but I was very grateful to have Braxton in a sanitary and comfortable hospital. Can you only imagine the pain Nephi had to endure knowing that his wife was going to be giving birth and raising her babies in the wide open wilderness.

In addition to that they were eating raw meat which they were lucky to get after Nephi broke his bow (which again his brothers complained about). In addition to the raw meat they ate honey and fruit. This may not seem so bad if you compare it to a good camping trip, but the scripture says they lived in the wilderness for EIGHT years. I find it amazing that with all these trials and tribulations Nephi was still in the habit of praising the Lord for what little he had.

In short, I have learned from these few verses that we all need to be grateful for ALL the Lord gives us. We need to be thankful all the way down to a little gnat. In addition we could all (myself especially) be more positive and withold our complaints. If Nephi can see a silver lining while bringing his children into the world living in the wilderness I can see a silver lining in all of the trials I have to endure. It is my goal to look for more of those silver linings.