1 Nephi 5:22

It would seem that Lehi and Nephi didn't know what was on the plates of brass prior to being asked to retrieve them. Maybe they did, but it says:

• "And he beheld that that they did contain the 5 books of Moses..."

• "And also many prophecies which have been spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah."

• "And my father, Lehi, also found upon the plates of brass a geneology of his fathers..."

• "Wherefore we know that he was a descendant of Joseph..."

• "And this my father, Lehi, did discover the geneology of his fathers."

• "And now when my father saw all these things he was filled with the Spirit and began to prophesy..."

These phrases lend me to believe he did not know all that the brass plates contained, or how much they would bless his family and descendants. But God knew.

Looking back (us knowing what they contain) it's hard to imagine what it would have been like not knowing- but yet they (Nephi) were willing to risk their (his) life to do as God commanded, without fully understanding the blessing they would receive for doing so, or the reason for doing so.

Nephi (and Lehi) were simply willing to do whatever God commanded- *simply because He commanded it.

What am I being asked or commanded to do that I don't understand the reason for? Am I willing to do it simply because God asked - knowing there are 'brass plate blessings' at the other end of my faithfulness? And 'brass plate blessings' not only bless us individually (more than we expected or even imagine) but also can bless our posterity for generations.

Knowing this, how God works, wouldn't I want to keep all of His commandments- always?

I will think of a commandment that I'm not completely following (usually because I'd prefer the short term pleasure of not keeping it than the long-term blessings, joy and peace.) And I'll commit to keeping it better- simply because God asked, because I'm beginning to know God, and because I love Him.

(**After just praying to know which commandments I need to work on, I feel that I need to be more aware of when I 'covet' so I can begin to think differently. I'm grateful for the scriptures, the Spirit guidance, and the person I may become when I learn to resist temptation.)

Today I will pray for recognition of when I covet - and help to know what to replace those feelings with.