Sorry, this is not about Pip or Miss Havisham–though I would be glad to discuss that with you sometime. Yes, this is still about what I am reading in the Book of Mormon this summer.

For the first part of the Book of Mormon, the Nephites were a blessed people. They were the Lord’s covenant people. But, as do many groups and nations that have it easy (because of their blessings), they soon forgot where all of that came from and fell into unrighteousness.

Joseph Smith was taught by the Lord, “for of him unto whom much is given much is required; and he who sins against the greater light shall receive the greater condemnation” (D&C 82:3). In other words, the more you have been given of the Lord, the higher the expectation. 

Alma pleaded with the unrighteous people in Ammonihah:

“ . . . After having had so much light and so much knowledge given unto them of the Lord their God;

“Yea, after having been such a highly favored people of the Lord; yea, after having been favored above every other nation, kindred, tongue, or people; after having had all things made known unto them, according to their desires, and their faith, and prayers, of that which has been, and which is, and which is to come;

“Having been visited by the Spirit of God; having conversed with angels, and having been spoken unto by the voice of the Lord; and having the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and also many gifts, the gift of speaking with tongues, and the gift of preaching, and the gift of the Holy Ghost, and the gift of translation;

“Yea, and after having been delivered of God out of the land of Jerusalem, by the hand of the Lord; having been saved from famine, and from sickness, and all manner of diseases of every kind; and they having waxed strong in battle, that they might not be destroyed; having been brought out of bondage time after time, and having been kept and preserved until now; and they have been prospered until they are rich in all manner of things—

“And now behold I say unto you, that if this people, who have received so many blessings from the hand of the Lord, should transgress contrary to the light and knowledge which they do have, I say unto you that if this be the case, that if they should fall into transgression, it would be far more tolerable for the Lamanites than for them” (Alma 9:19-23).

As a covenant people, much is required of us because we have been given much. We should be slow to judge those who don’t have the knowledge we have, because, truly, if we aren’t keeping our covenants, many of them might be better off than we are.

So, when it is hard to follow or hard to believe, we would do well to reflect on what we have already been given–the chance to make covenants that will lead us home. Instead of shirking we need to press forward, remembering the things we have promised to do. 

We have been given great things, so there are great expectations of us.