1 Nephi chapter 2 - about Obedience

Verse 1, Lehi is blessed for being faithful and for being a good missionary. All my life I've heard in meetings the importance of being faithful missionaries, yet I've never done as Lehi and gone out and "declared unto the people of the things" that we are commanded to declare. I've served 3 missions, two of which were proselyting missions and then I did spend the whole two years trying to declare the Gospel, but the rest of my life, not so much. I believe if we want to be blessed, if we want the Lord to be pleased with us, we need to be faithful missionaries every day. If we do that, we will be taken to a 'promised land'. If we don't, we might get left behind with those who wouldn't listen to the Prophets.

Verse 2, As soon as Lehi was commanded, he obeyed. It wasn't an easy thing to do - at least I don't think there are very many people in the world who would just pack up some tents and supplies and leave everything in their house, knowing they would never go back to it. What would be the hardest thing to leave? While we were in Chile, I missed having a couch to sit on. I missed my sewing machine all the time. I missed having my flute. I missed the comforts and conveniences of America. I wonder if I could have been so faithful and quickly obedient as Lehi.

Verse 6, I think it's very important to note that one of the first things Lehi did as soon as they pitched their tents was to build an altar where he could make offerings and give thanks. He was grateful, in spite of the difficulties he was currently going through. On my mission I had a companion who always said a prayer of gratitude the second we walked out of a place where we had taught a lesson. She didn't wait till she got back to the apartment, or until her nightly prayers. She stopped in the street, right there, bowed her head, and offered a silent prayer of gratitude. What a great example!

Verse 12, since this post is about obedience, I think verse 12 is the key to our lack of obedience. It is universally true that if we really knew the 'dealings of that God who had created' us, we would want to be obedient to Him. If we are lazy or complacent about obedience, it is probably mostly because we just don't know God, our Heavenly Father, well enough. The more we know Him, the more we LOVE Him and WANT to obey.

Verse 16, and then this verse gives the key to knowing God so that we will want to obey. First Nephi had DESIRES to know of the mysteries of GOD. If Laman and Lemuel, or if WE, want to be obedient, first we need the DESIRE. The 2nd step was to pray. But it wasn't just a rote-same-as-last night's-prayer type of prayer. He CRIED unto the Lord. Verse 19 says Nephi sought God diligently, with lowliness of heart. That's the key to becoming obedient. We need the desire, then we need to pray with all our heart and soul. If we do that, we will be faithfully obedient and receive all the blessings God has for us.