Heavenly Father Will Help Us Do Hard Things

After leaving Jerusalem to escape persecution, Lehi told his sons to return to Jerusalem to get “the record of the Jews“, know to us today as the Old Testament. These “plates of brass” (1 Nephi 3:2–4) also contained other records such as Lehi‘s genealogy. Obtaining these records was no small task because they were held by a wicked leader who was not willing to give them up.

To make matters even more challenging, Nephi’s Brothers, Laman and Lemuel, once again complain about the task at hand. They claimed that it is too hard for them to do (1 Nephi 3:5, 28, 31). This story from the Book of Mormon is an excellent example of how faith in God can help us do hard things.

When we are on the Lord’s errand we will get his help

Nephi had faith that God would help them do the errand He had sent them on. He knew that “the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them” (1 Nephi 3:7).

Some of Heavenly Father’s commandments may seem hard to obey, but with Heavenly Father’s help, we can obey all His commandments. Heavenly Father will help us if we have faith in him and trust him. “We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel” (third article of faith).

Nephi and his brothers get the Brass Plates

Nephi is led by the spirit (1 Nephi 4:6) to complete the task at hand through the use of stratagem. He finds Laban “drunken with wine” (1 Nephi 4:7). After being instructed by the spirit, Nephi kills Laban, dresses up in Laban’s close, and tricks Laban’s servant, Zoram, to take him to Laban’s treasury (1 Nephi 4:19-20) to get the Brass Plates. After Zoram realizes the deception, he makes an oath to follow Nephi’s father Lehi (1 Nephi 4:35).