Consider this verse–

he was thus pondering—being much cast down because of the wickedness of the people of the Nephites, their secret works of darkness, and their murderings, and their plunderings, and all manner of iniquities

shortly followed by these verses–

4 Blessed art thou, Nephi, for those things which thou hast done; for I have beheld how thou hast with unwearyingness declared the word, which I have given unto thee, unto this people. And thou hast not feared them, and hast not sought thine own life, but hast sought my will, and to keep my commandments.

5 And now, because thou hast done this with such unwearyingness, behold, I will bless thee forever; and I will make thee mighty in word and in deed, in faith and in works; yea, even that all things shall be done unto thee according to thy word, for thou shalt not ask that which is contrary to my will.

6 Behold, thou art Nephi, and I am God. Behold, I declare it unto thee in the presence of mine angels, that ye shall have power over this people, and shall smite the earth with famine, and with pestilence, and destruction, according to the wickedness of this people.

7 Behold, I give unto you power, that whatsoever ye shall seal on earth shall be sealed in heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven; and thus shall ye have power among this people.

8 And thus, if ye shall say unto this temple it shall be rent in twain, it shall be done.

9 And if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou cast down and become smooth, it shall be done.

10 And behold, if ye shall say that God shall smite this people, it shall come to pass.

Nephi had overcome the world. He had earned God’s trust.

I generally think of the Book of Mormon as a tragic, pessimistic book. Everybody gets worse, no amount of preaching and miracles make any difference, they destroy themselves.

But today it occurred to me–it was suggested to me–that this Nephi alone makes the whole civilization worthwhile in God’s eyes. One exalted son is heavier than a mountain, while the wicked are lighter than feathers. Captain Moroni alone, Abish alone, King Lemuel alone, any of the Nephis alone, make it all worthwhile.

We must think of the parable of the olive trees as if each good olive were a pearl, olive-sized, worth an incredible amount.

The Savior told us that in the desert of this world there are pearls of great price, and it is worth buying any amount of arid land at pennies per acre for even just that one pearl.

We are, or can be, the pearl.

Take the grit of which you are made, and add to it layer after layer of shining repentance, Spirit, and grace.


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