1 Nephi 15

4 And now I, Nephi, was grieved because of the hardness of their hearts, and also, because of the things which I had seen, and knew they must unavoidably come to pass because of the great wickedness of the children of men.
25 Wherefore, I, Nephi, did exhort them to give heed unto the word of the Lord; yea, I did exhort them with all the energies of my soul, and with all the faculty which I possessed, that they would give heed to the word of God and remember to keep his commandments always in all things.

Today Nephi’s regret over the hardheartedness of his brothers really resonated with me. I am currently on a flight returning from visiting family in Israel. And I can relate to Nephi’s feeling of pain and frustration when his brothers do not inquire of God.

It is such an difficult tightrope act at times with non-member family. Trying to find organic opportunities to share gospel principles can require all the energies of the soul. And even then, those moments are fleeting. One is always filled with a sense of apprehension and wondering whether one could have done better. There is also a feeling of dread and worry that those you love will reject the Gospel.

I too have been grieved over the hardness of the hearts of those I care about. And yet, in moments of agony a quiet whisper comes from the spirit: Reassuring that all is well: reminding that the Lord is the ultimate judge; encouraging to never give up on those you love: declaring “we’ll done my good and faithful servant.”