FOOD FOR THE SPIRIT

This morning, I have been reading in 1Nephi Chapter 17. I love this part of Nephi's story and kept thinking that it really can be applied directly to any task that we are undertaking in life. This is where after tarrying in the wilderness for many years, Nephi's family is finally led to the land Bountiful. Imagine their excitement, when they finally find a place that is flowing with milk and honey, right there on the edge of the sea. I can imagine their children, running on the beach and playing in the cool water, and their wives laughing together as they prepare the first real feast in years. Just as they were all starting to relax into this glorious new life, Nephi is told by God to go up to the mountain, (our mountain is the temple) where he receives direction from the Lord, that he should build a boat which will be used to cross the waters.

"Thou shalt construct a ship, after the manner which I shall show thee. . . "

As you can imagine, this news was not received well by his older brothers, who 1)probably really didn't want to do anymore traveling, and 2)thought that Nephi was crazy for thinking that he could build a boat at all.

But Nephi's faith was pure. He wanted to do this thing the Lord's way, not man's way. He rolled up his sleeves and asked the Lord how to build the tools first. Then after the tools were made, he commenced in building the ship, paying no attention to his brothers who mocked him all along.

How many times have we felt that losing weight was such a monumental task, and felt so easily overwhelmed when we thought of the BIG number. I have a big number. In order to get within my healthy weight range, I must lose another 75 pounds. I must admit that at times, that number really shakes my confidence, and sometimes I really feel that it will be impossible. But you'll notice that in Nephi's account, he didn't ask how to build the ship, he asked how to build the tools. He took that first, small step. And did the Lord guide Him and teach him throughout the entire process? Yes. I'm sure that the construction of the ship wasn't easy and that it took a very long time. But the Lord surely magnified Nephi's own abilities, allowing him to accomplish something truly remarkable.

So let's ask the Lord what His plan for is for our losing weight. What is that first step? What are the tools that will help us to build this new body, which is truly a vessel that will carry us to the Promised Land?

Here is the lesson for all of us. If we show faith, the Lord will help us do hard things. And another lesson from this story. . . sometimes we need to step out of our comfort zone. We need to get off the beach sometimes and into the boat. Because the boat is how we'll get to the real destination. . . the Promised Land.