The loss of a loved one is a difficult trial. Nephi grieved the death of his father, Lehi. Even though his father was elderly and ill, and death is in many ways a blessing, in the final analysis, he was still Nephi's father and Nephi missed him. That grief was compounded by his brothers and the sons of Ishmael turning on him with hatred in their hearts. No matter how unworthy they were, Laman and Lemuel still respected their father enough that he was able to protect Nephi to some extent. Now, that protection was gone. Usually, when the brothers were acting out against God, Nephi chastised them. This time, the Lord constrained him. Instead, Nephi was advised to take his people and flee.
When Nephi wrote about his experience, he wrote with great honesty. I think we often emulate great people to the point where we feel like they are never depressed or discouraged. Nephi showed his moral courage in his emotional honesty. Sometimes we feel as if we should never feel the pain of grief. After all, we Jesus Christ atoned for sin and sorrow. If we feel despair, it means we have not faith. Nothing could be further from the truth. Grief is a psychological necessity, part of that opposition in all things.
You see both gratitude and grief in what has become known as the Psalm of Nephi. Read the Psalm in verses 15 to the end or Chapter 4 of 2 Nephi. I have received great comfort in knowing that Nephi, such a great man and prophet, also felt sorrow because of his shortcomings. Perhaps, there is hope for me.
© February 2020, Dr. Kathleen Rawlings Buntin Danielson
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