My Soul Delighteth

As I ate a bowl of corn flakes at the breakfast table this morning, I opened the Book of Mormon somewhat randomly. I landed on Chapter 11 of the Second Book of Nephi and began to read:

4 Behold, my soul delighteth in proving unto my people the truth of the coming of Christ; for, for this end hath the law of Moses been given; and all things which have been given of God from the beginning of the world, unto man, are the typifying of him.

5 And also my soul delighteth in the covenants of the Lord which he hath made to our fathers; yea, my soul delighteth in his grace, and in his justice, and power, and mercy in the great and eternal plan of deliverance from death.

6 And my soul delighteth in proving unto my people that save Christ should come all men must perish.

(Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 11:4–6 | With my own emphasis added)

One thing I saw right away was the repeated phrase “my soul delighteth.” Nephi was the king of his people. Yet the power and leadership was not what he took delight in. He only reluctantly took the job of king (see 2 Nephi 5:18). He most wanted to spend his time proving to his people that they were, of themselves, nothing. Christ is everything.

The covenants made by a lost and fallen mankind with an unchangeable God were “delightful.” In them was shown the grace, justice, power, and mercy that unlocked the door to bring about redemption, salvation, and exaltation!

Nephi’s delight was to help individuals recognize the evidence – the proof – that a life without Jesus Christ was a hopeless life indeed.

Many years later and a half a world away, to the Corinthians Paul wrote: “If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied” (New Testament, New International Version | 1 Corinthians 15:19).

Said President Boyd K. Packer very recently, “The ultimate end of all activity in the Church is to see a husband and his wife and their children happy at home, protected by the principles and laws of the gospel, sealed safely in the covenants of the everlasting priesthood.” (And a Little Child Shall Lead Them, April 2012)

My soul delighteth in that too.

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