The Book of Mormon
Nephi's Wife
1st Nephi 7:6, 19, 16:7, 19, 22, 32, 35-36, 39, 17:1-3, 18:9, 19, 24
2nd Nephi 5:5-7
One of the most frequently asked questions I hear is, "How do you cope with your husband being gone?" My respond is, "Oh, I don't know, I just get on with life." Honestly, I cope because of this woman, Nephi's wife.
When Aaron was stationed in Germany for a few months, I was not happy about it. I knew there must others that could have gone instead. How could they send my husband to Germany for four months and then just four months after returning deploy him to Afghanistan. It just wasn't fair! While expressing my frustrations to Aaron, he quite frankly I might add, told me I had to figure out a way to deal with it. I prayed for guidance, strength, and comfort. Randomly, I stumbled upon a blog called Women in the Scriptures. I was inspired to study more closely the women found within the pages of the scriptures. One of the first woman I read about, in the Book of Mormon, was Nephi's wife.
As I read about her, I quickly realized that my situation really wasn't that bad.
1st Nephi 16:7 says, "I Nephi, took one of the daughters of Ishmael to wife. . . " As I read that, I thought about the traits this woman must have had to attract such a righteous man. Doctrine and Covenants 88:40 says, . . . "Virtue loveth virtue; light cleaveth unto light. . . " She must have been faithful and strong. A women not afraid to stand up for right. I was inspired by her strength and courage, and strive to emulate it in my life.
Some of my favourite scriptures come after her father dies. The daughter's of Ishmael complained saying, "Our father is dead; yea, and we have wandered much in the wilderness, and we have suffered much affliction, hunger, thirst, and fatigue; and after all these sufferings we must perish in the wilderness with hunger." 1st Nephi 16:35 That was me! I was a complainer. I was so lost in feeling sorry for myself that I forgot about all the wonderful blessings in my life.
After they are chastened and repent, comes the most powerful and strengthening scriptures for me.
1st Nephi 17: 1-2, ". . . We did take our journey in the wilderness. And we did travel and wade through much affliction in the wilderness; and our women did bear children in the wilderness. AND SO GREAT WERE THE BLESSINGS OF THE LORD UPON US, that while we did live upon raw meat in the wilderness, our women did give suck for their children, and were strong, yea, even like unto men; and they began to bear their journeyings without murmurings."
Her situation had not changed. She was still traveling through the wilderness. She was still going through childbirth. She was still having trials and afflictions; however, she did it without complaining!
Aaron was going to deploy. That was not going to change. With her example, I decided to make it my goal to not complain about Aaron having to be gone. After reading about Nephi's wife, and opening my eyes to those around me, I really didn't have a right to complain.
I am blessed to have a husband who continually tells me how much he loves me. I am blessed daughter who loves me unconditionally, and brings so much joy and happiness into my life. I am blessed to be surrounded by family and friends that support and encourage me to keep my head up. And most importantly, I am blessed to have a Heavenly Father who continues to answer my prayers, who gives me strength, and sends comfort when needed.
I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to get to know the wife of Nephi a little better. I had no idea the love and gratitude I would feel towards her. She truly was a strong, brave, and faithful woman. I strive everyday to be more like her.
image from lds.org
and photos from Heather Gibbons Photography
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