The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ

“And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.”

This passage comes relatively early in the account of the exodus of Lehi’s family from Jerusalem. Lehi has instructed his sons, following God’s command to him, to return to the city and procure the plates of the sacred Jewish records. Nephi expresses a willingness to obey God’s commandments regardless of the difficulties involved, which is a core trait of LDS ethical philosophy: trusting in God to empower any intentional, good-faith efforts to keep the commandments.

“But the Lord knoweth all things from the beginning; wherefore, he prepareth a way to accomplish all his works among the children of men; for behold, he hath all power unto the fulfilling of all his words. And thus it is. Amen.”

Like the previous quote, this one expresses faith in God’s willingness to uphold and bless human efforts to keep his commandments. This quote also speaks to the theme of The Progression of History Along God’s Plan of Salvation, reminding the reader that God has his own purposes that play out amidst the ups and downs of humanity’s experiences, all of which lead inexorably to the fulfillment of God’s plan for the world.

“For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost, as well in these times as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to come; wherefore, the course of the Lord is one eternal round.”

This quote again emphasizes the way that God works in history, but here the emphasis is placed on the constancy of God’s ways, namely, that any person can seek God’s presence and encounter his work in their life, just as God became present to those who sought him in the past.