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This is the monthly scripture in Primary, and it’s got me thinking. Is it possible that 1 Nephi 3:7 doesn’t apply to every person and every situation? Is it possible that God never meant it to be taken that way? (Nephi, not God, is the speaker in that verse.) I’ve had experiences in my life that directly contradict the idea that God will provide a way for me to do the things He tells me to do. But maybe the problem was never a lack of faith on my part. (And considering that part of how God “provides a way” for Nephi is by instructing him to murder an unconscious man… Maybe I want no part of that.)
I think all scripture has a context, scope , and application to teach moral principles. They do not all apply to all situations. We pick and choose when to use them to teach truth. Applying to every situation is how extreme radical groups justify evil.
As with all revelation, and financial investments, past performance is not indicative of future results. Invest wisely.
It is entirely possible that this scripture does not apply to everyone or all situations. It apparently did apply to Nephi (at least he believed it did, it could be confirmation bias). Almost no scripture is the direct word of God, most of it is the point of view or opinion of the writer. In this case, I see it as Nephi’s opinion based on his experiences. My experiences have been different. I don’t think God commands people to do things they can’t do. I think most people believe God commands them to do the things they say God commands them to do.
I don’t think God commands people to do nearly as many things as people believe he commands them to do.
I think he commands people to love – and lets them figure out what that means.
I think what I think – and what I think has changed over time.
Quote:And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know 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.
The verse itself implies the scope, “children of men” meaning everyone but I don’t hold scripture as being the final voice of authority. Nephi could have botched things just like any other fallible human.
I’m not sure how the process works. We’re human, if we don’t accomplish something and enough time goes by isn’t the tendency to go back and reinterpret the commandment? Well what god
reallymeant…
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