Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

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Nephi tells us the fullness of his intent “is that [he] may persuade men to come unto the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and be saved” (1 Nephi 6:4). He has an eye single to the glory of God. 

Because of that commitment, Nephi also explains: “Wherefore, the things which are pleasing unto the world I do not write, but the things which are pleasing unto God and unto those who are not of the world” (1 Nephi 6:5). 

I wonder if I can say that about myself. Can I say that the things which are pleasing unto the world I do not write? Or do. Or say. Or read. Or watch. Or listen to. Or wear. Or think. Or believe. I know I can say I don’t drink or smoke the things of the world. But what about these other things? Am I more worried about what the world thinks of me or what God thinks of me? 

Granted, there are things that please God and please the world. Take service for example; I would say most of the world would say service is a positive thing. We know God thinks so. So sometimes what pleases God and what pleases the world are congruent. Yet, many times they are not. That’s why it is important for us to know where we stand before we head out into “the world”. 

When Lehi led his family out of Jerusalem, it was as if they were leaving “the world”–those things, people, and places that were not in harmony with commandments of God. After leaving “the world”, Nephi and his brothers were sent back to Jerusalem to get the brass plates. Remember, Nephi knew God would prepare a way for him (1 Nephi 3:7), so I think we can comfortably say he knew where he stood. 

From his parents’ perspective, Nephi and his brothers were gone a while, maybe longer than expected, and their mom worried about them. She thought they had died and she was a little mad at Lehi for sending them. I think her position is understandable. I’m sure our loved ones, parents, and leaders might get a little nervous when they send us out into the world to be on our own. Maybe that is to school, to camp, to a friend’s house, to college, or on a mission. When that time comes, hopefully we are strong in our convictions and we worry more about what God thinks of us than what “the world” thinks of us. 

Hopefully, we all have have decided “the things which are pleasing unto the world I do not ______.” You fill in the blank. Stick to it. And then when you arrive back to your homes, you will find that “[your parents’] joy [is] full, and [your] mother [is] comforted.”

Nephi tells us the fullness of his intent “is that [he] may persuade men to come unto the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and be saved” (1 Nephi 6:4). He has an eye single to the glory of God. 

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