Tender Mercies

At the end of Chapter 1 of First Nephi, Nephi gives us a clear statement of what is to come.  In fact, the final verse  of the chapter is his summary of the entire First and Second Books of Nephi.  He says:

"But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance."

One sentence, but it truly is the summation of all of Nephi's writings.  How simple and pure is this principle,and he learned it again and again throughout his life.  As he goes with his brothers to get the plates, again as they return home from convincing Ishmael to join them, as they are without bows in the wilderness, crossing the sea and being tied up during a terrible storm, and even as they are forced to flee from their newly found promised land into the wilderness.

The message Nephi seems to send through it all is that God is in charge.  If we simply put our faith in him, he will bring us to safety.  It may not be easy, fun, or pleasant, but it will work out for our good.  That's an easy message to remember when you are on calm seas, but far more challenging when the ship is being tossed like a rag doll and buffeted - by that same God, I'll point out, that you have chosen to serve - and as it is buffeted, YOU are the one who is tied to the mast with rough cord.  It is YOU, not those evil brothers, who is taking the brunt of the storm.  And as you swallow mouth-full after mouth-full of sea water, as you vomit from the choking, as your flesh is torn from your wrists by cords and from your arms and knees and scalp from the deck of the ship - a ship that God directed you to build - as you are bruised and beaten, not by man, but by the tempest sent by God himself - it is in those moments that we can so easily become bitter.  It is those moments that make us question if maybe we know better than God, or if, perhaps, he has abandoned us.  In those moments of darkness, it is no longer so easy to believe that God has this all figured out.  It is in those moments that we can become "mighty even unto the power of deliverance".

So how?  How, in those moments of greatest alarm and unfairness do we reach out to God and receive of his tender mercies?  Joseph gives us a great example in the Doctrine and Covenants.  As he sat (or stooped, but never stood) in the vile confines of Liberty jail and listened to his captors tell of the awful things the saints were enduring - in his moment of greatest despair, he called upon God;

"O God, where art thou?  And where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place?  How long shall thy hand be stayed and thine eye, yea they pure eye, behold from the eternal heavens the wrongs of thy people and thy servants, and thine ear be penetrated with their cries."
And God's reply
"My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.  ... thou art not yet as job .... their bound are set."

While the Lord's reply is instructive, I think Joseph's words are particularly enlightening in respect to Nephi's introduction.  He does not ask "why don't you care", or "are you watching".  He asks, "Where art thou", and "how long shall thy hand be stayed".  He also acknowledges "thy pure eye".  It is clear he knows who is in charge, and he knows that God has a plan.  He is simply pleading to be let in on that plan.  He seems to be saying "God, I know you've got this figured out, but it is REALLY hard for me right now.  Please, can I have a glimpse of where this is going, and a small peak at how it all turns out?  I'm at my limit, and I really need just a little support."  That is Nephi's message.  No matter how hard it gets, now matter how much you feel God has abandoned you, or even turned on you, he will ALWAYS be your father.  His love is deeper than you can imagine, and if you will endure well the trials he allows you to face, you will be delivered.  And how great shall be the reward.