"For In His Strength I Can Do All Things"

One of my favorite stories in the Book of Mormon is the mission of the sons of Mosiah to the Lamanites; its also a good story to read when we feel discouraged.  The sons of Mosiah were going around with Alma the Younger, persecuting members of the church when an angel appeared and commanded them to repent.  After repenting, the sons of Mosiah wanted to bring others to the knowledge of God, but they didn't just pick any people to go preach the gospel to, they decided to go preach the gospel to the Lamanites.

"And do you remember, my brethren," Ammon would later say, "that we said unto our brethren in the land of Zarahemla, we go up to the land of Nephi, to preach unto our brethren, the Lamanites, and they laughed us to scorn?"

Ammon went on to say, "For they said unto us: Do ye suppose that ye can bring the Lamanites to the knowledge of the truth? Do ye suppose that ye can convince the Lamanites of the incorrectness of the traditions of their fathers, as stiffnecked a people as they are; whose hearts delight in the shedding of blood; whose days have been spent in the grossest iniquity; whose ways have been the ways of a transgressor from the beginning?"  (See Alma 26:23-24).

In fact, their brethren in Zarahemla suggested that, instead of going on a mission to preach the gospel to the Lamanites, that they should instead take up arms to destroy the Lamanites.  "But behold, my beloved brethren," said Ammon, "we came into the wilderness not with the intent to destroy our brethren, but with the intent that perhaps we might save some few of their souls." (See: Alma 26:25-26).

The sons of Mosiah went on their mission, but before even arriving in the Land of Nephi, they became discouraged, and they were even about the turn back; the trip through the wilderness was difficult, they didn't have much food, and the task ahead was daunting.  "Behold," said Ammon, "the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst they brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success." (See: Alma 26:27).

With the Lord's promise, they continued on, reached the Land of Nephi, and separated from each other to preach to as many different Lamanites as possible.  To jump ahead in the story, the Lord kept his promise, and thousands upon thousands of Lamanites were converted.  "Behold," said Ammon, "the field was ripe, and blessed are ye for ye did thrust in the sickle, and did reap with your might, yea, all the day long did ye labor; and behold the number of your sheaves!" (Alma 26:5).

Ammon's brother Aaron became concerned that he was boasting in his own strength, but Ammon replied, "I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things." (See: Alma 26:11-12).

Several hundred years earlier, on the other side of an ocean, Nephi and his brothers labored to build a ship, but only after Laman and Lemuel had first rebelled.  They laughed at their brother and said that he could not build a ship.  Nephi told them that "If God had commanded me to do all things I could do them, If he should command me that I should say unto this water, be thou earth, it should be earth; and if I say it, it would be done; And now, if the Lord has such great power, and has wrought so many miracles among the children of men, how is it that he cannot instruct me, that I should build a ship?" (See: 1 Nephi 17:50-51).

Lamen and Lemuel, it seemed, had short memories when it came to miracles.  They saw an angel outside of Jerusalem when they had been sent back to get the Brass Plates; they had witnessed their brother breaking free from the cords with which they had bound him; these and other amazing events did they forget.  Before they had bound Nephi with cords, their brother had said to them, "Yea, and how is it that ye have forgotten that the Lord is able to do all things according to his will, for the children of men, if it so be that they exercise faith in him?  Wherefore, let us be faithful to him." (1 Nephi 7:12).

I have been wondering recently if we really believe that God will do all things for his children.  I am sure that we believe he has the power to do all things, at least, we say we do.  But will he really help us?  Nephi does give an important caveat when he says "according to his will," but, if it is according to his will, do we really believe that he will help us do the impossible?

At the April 2014 General Conference of the LDS Church, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf recalled the story of Rip Van Winkle who, as a result of a 20-year nap, had slept through the American Revolution (or War for Independence).  President Uchtdorf then asked, "are you sleeping through the Restoration?"

President Uchtdorf explained, "Sometimes we think of the Restoration of the gospel as something that is complete, already behind us -- Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon, he received priesthood keys, the Church was organized. In reality, the Restoration is an ongoing process; we are living in it right now. It includes 'all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal,' and the 'many great and important things' that 'He will yet reveal.'  Brethren, the exciting developments of today are part of that long-foretold period of preparation that will culminate in the glorious Second Coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  This is one of the most remarkable periods of the world’s history! Ancient prophets yearned to see our day."

 We believe in miracles, but perhaps we believe they mostly happen to other people, or mostly happened in earlier times, like the 19th century.  The prophet Mormon asked "Have miracles ceased because Christ hath ascended into heaven, and hath sat down on the right hand of God, to claim of the Father his rights of mercy which he hath upon the children of men. . . .  And because he hath done this, my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased?"  Mormon then gave us the answer, "Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither have angels ceased to minister unto the children of men."  Finally, Mormon gave us this warning, "It is by faith that miracles are wrought; and it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men; wherefore, if these things have ceased wo be unto the children of men, for it is because of unbelief, and all is vain." (See: Moroni &: 27, 30 & 37).

If we wonder why there seem to be fewer miracles these days it is likely because of a lack of faith on our part.  The work of the Restoration, begun in 1820, has not been completed, there is still work to be done and we are called to participate in that work, either as full time missionaries or as member missionaries, or as teachers, or as priesthood holders.  "The Standard of truth has been erected," and it is still standing, "no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing," and it is still progressing.

As President Uchtdorf said in April 2014, "I testify that the cleansing power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the transformative power of the Holy Ghost can heal and rescue mankind. It is our privilege, our sacred duty, and our joy to heed the Savior’s call to follow Him with a willing mind and full purpose of heart. Let us 'shake off the chains with which [we] are bound, and come forth out of obscurity, and arise from the dust.'”

Let us humble ourselves before God and exercise faith in him; let us acknowledge our weaknesses before him; let us repent and seek to do his will; then may His grace, which is sufficient for all, make weak things become strong, even help us to do those things He has asked us to do, even the daunting tasks.  This is my prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Uchtdorf, D. F. (2014) "Are You Sleeping through the Restoration?" Ensign, May 2014, accessed at https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/04/are-you-sleeping-through-the-restoration?lang=eng on August 28, 2014.