They Know From Whence Their Blessings Come

As Mormon recounted the terrible state of the Nephites in his day, he explained who he was writing to. He said, “And now behold, this I speak unto their seed, and also to the Gentiles who have care for the house of Israel, that realize and know from whence their blessings come” (Mormon 5:10). This verse invites us to consider whether we belong to these two groups. Are we among those who have care for the house of Israel? Are we among those who know from whence their blessings come? As I thought about this, I realized that the Book of Mormon, written largely by Mormon, is meant specifically to help us belong to that latter group. Those who sincerely read and study the Book of Mormon will come to understand better where their blessings come from. In the Title Page of the book, Moroni expressed this as one of its purposes, “Which is to show unto the remnant of the house of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever.” Those who read the Book of Mormon will see that the Lord has done great things for the children of men in the past and will see where blessings truly come from.

There are many stories that help us see how the Lord helps those who put their trust in Him. For example, at the beginning of the book we see how the Lord delivered Nephi and his brothers from the hands of Laban. Sariah rejoiced in these words, “I also know of a surety that the Lord hath protected my sons, and delivered them out of the hands of Laban, and given them power whereby they could accomplish the thing which the Lord hath commanded them.” At this point Lehi and Sariah “gave thanks unto the God of Israel” (1 Nephi 5:8-9). Unfortunately Laman and Lemuel never seemed to understand where their blessings were coming from or how the Lord was helping them, for, as Zeniff described later, “they understood not the dealings of the Lord” (Mosiah 10:14). Later on the ship crossing the ocean, Nephi—even when he was tied up—never lost sight of where his blessings came from: “Nevertheless, I did look unto my God, and I did praise him all the day long; and I did not murmur against the Lord because of mine afflictions.” When his brothers finally humbled themselves, Nephi recorded, “I prayed unto the Lord; and after I had prayed the winds did cease, and the storm did cease, and there was a great calm” (1 Nephi 18:16, 21). They were saved by the hand of the Lord, and as readers we are to meant to see how His hand guided this people to safety in the promised land.

            Many other stories, if we read with a sincere heart, help us see where blessings come from. Eventually the Nephites in the land of Nephi became mostly wicked, and the Lord preserved a small group who were led to the land of Zarahemla: “And they were admonished continually by the word of God; and they were led by the power of his arm, through the wilderness until they came down into the land which is called the land of Zarahemla” (Omni 1:13). We are to see as readers that it is the power of His arm that guides us through our difficulties. Later when the people of Alma, in bondage to Amulon, had no way to escape, we see how the Lord provided the way miraculously when a deep sleep came upon the Lamanites. This was not lost on these faithful Nephites: “And they gave thanks to God, yea, all their men and all their women and all their children that could speak lifted their voices in the praises of their God” (Mosiah 24:22). In another instance, the Nephites were delivered from the hands of Amalickiah and the Lamanites. Mormon recorded, “And it came to pass, that on the other hand, the people of Nephi did thank the Lord their God, because of his matchless power in delivering them from the hands of their enemies” (Alma 49:28). They understood, and we should understand as we read, that our greatest protection comes from the Lord. Many years later when the Nephites were threatened with destruction by the Gadianton robbers, they learned the same thing. After their miraculous deliverance, “They did cry: Hosanna to the Most High God. And they did cry: Blessed be the name of the Lord God Almighty, the Most High God. And their hearts were swollen with joy, unto the gushing out of many tears, because of the great goodness of God in delivering them out of the hands of their enemies; and they knew it was because of their repentance and their humility that they had been delivered from an everlasting destruction” (3 Nephi 4:32-33). They knew from whence their blessings had come, understanding that without Him they would have been destroyed. And we should see that as well as we read in the Book of Mormon and ponder its witness of God’s hand in the lives of His people. These and many other stories should help us see that safety and deliverance and forgiveness and hope come from Him, inspiring us to look for His blessings in our own lives each day.