Go and Do

I've always wondered, why didn't God just tell Lehi to grab the Brass Plates on his way out of Jerusalem? He knew that they would need the sacred text, He didn't forget, God doesn't make mistakes. The trials that Nephi and his family were called to pass through were not a deviation of God's plan but a part of the plan all along. 

Retrieving the plates was probably the hardest thing any of the four brothers had ever been asked to do. This experience tried and stretched them, but more importantly it molded them and shaped them into the people that God needed them to be.

Laman was willing to approach Laban first, but to no avail. He was even willing to enter a second time along side his brothers to offer all of their worldly possessions to purchase the Brass Plates but again they were chased out. At this point the trial became too much for the Eldest brothers. Nephi's faith was the only one strong enough to trust God for a third time.

Upon entering the city, Nephi finds his faith tested even farther then before when he finds Laban on the ground next to his sword and is commanded to kill him. For a moment his "go and do" attitude falters. For the first time "his heart shrunk" away from the task the Lord had given him. But even through this most testing moment Nephi, consciously aligns his will with God and "obeys the voice of the Spirit" and 

proves himself faithful once again.

Why didn't God "deliver Laban into his hands" the first time around? Why was Nephi subjected to repeated failure, loss of all his worldly possessions, beatings by the hand of his own brothers and then finally forced to stand on his own to face what easily could have been his death? Probably for a lot of reasons but in the end he went completely on faith. He was "led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which he would do." Only then was he ready. It was always God's plan for Nephi to return home with the Brass Plates. God was always willing to deliver the plates into his hands, but Nephi and his brothers had a few things to learn along the way.

Like this experience, our trails are not a deviation away from God's plan but part were always apart of our story. God has big plans for us, much bigger then we have for ourselves. As we strive to become the best man or women we can be, God is working hard to make us into Gods, fit for his kingdom. 

Sometimes our trails are caused by careless others who break hearts and burn bridges. Sometimes our trails come because we fall short and have to learn from the consequences of our actions. But a lot of the time our trials come because the world is difficult, the world is unfair, but with God nothing is wasted. He is refining us, He is preparing us. 

Paul understood this perfectly. When referring to the Savior, he said, “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him."