Sacrifice and Serve

1 Nephi 22
Nephi’s brothers asked him to explain the words of Isaiah that he just shared with them inĀ 1 Nephi 20 and 21. Nephi explained that the house of Israel would be scattered among all nations and after the Lord set up “a mighty nation among the Gentiles…upon the face of this land” He would “proceed to do a marvelous work” “in bringing about his covenants and his gospel” unto all the nations and the house of Israel that they might “be brought out of…darkness; and they shall know that the Lord is their Savior and their Redeemer, the Mighty One of Israel” (1 Nephi 22:12).

Nephi explained Isaiah’s words that the house of Israel would be “nursed by the Gentiles” as the Gentiles bring the knowledge of the Lord’s gospel and covenants to them which will “be of great worth” to them and “likened it unto their being nourished by the Gentiles.” As more people in more nations know that the Lord is their Savior and are “obedient to the commandments of God” they will become more righteous so that “Satan shall have no more power over the hearts of the children of men” and the people will “dwell in righteousness, and the Holy One of Israel reigneth” during the Millennium.

The heroes today are those who engage in the Lord’s “marvelous work” by “making known” his covenants and his gospel, by living obediently, and by seeking to bring about Zion. These heroes sacrifice their desires “to get gain…to get power…to become popular in the eyes of the world, and…[to] seek the lusts of the flesh and the things of the world” in order to serve God by nourishing others with his gospel and his covenants “for the purpose of preparing the hearts of the children of men to receive his word at the time of his coming in his glory” (Alma 13:24).

*How can you more fully align your heart and your desires with the Lord?
*Who is one of your heroes who has sacrificed and served in order to nourish you with the blessings of the gospel?