Nephi Went His Way…Pondering – Helaman 10:2

2 And it came to pass that Nephi went his way towards his own house, pondering upon the things which the Lord had shown unto him.

(Helaman 10:2)

In the verses preceding this one, Nephi is surrounded by a group of people who were arguing about what label to attach to his spiritual power. Was he a “prophet” or a “god?” Bizarrely, even though he was standing among them, no one asked for his opinion, and, as the crowd dispersed, no one stayed behind to learn more from him. They were caught up in the excitement of the debate, and they completely missed the most important part of the experience. In contrast, Mormon tells us that “Nephi went his way towards his own house, pondering upon the things which the Lord had shown unto him.”
Ancient and modern prophets have urged us to take the time to meditate on important things and not to waste undue time and energy on matters of less importance. For example, President Thomas S. Monson gave the following counsel:

Everywhere people are in a hurry. Jet-powered aircraft speed their precious human cargo across broad continents and vast oceans so that business meetings might be attended, obligations met, vacations enjoyed, or families visited. Roadways everywhere—including freeways, thruways, and motorways—carry millions of automobiles, occupied by more millions of people, in a seemingly endless stream and for a multitude of reasons as we rush about the business of each day.
In this fast-paced life, do we ever pause for moments of meditation—even thoughts of timeless truths? (“The Race of Life,” General Conference, April 2012)

Today, I will take the time to focus my mind on things of eternal importance. Although the tasks of the day are important, and although temporal concerns may demand some of my attention, I will ensure that they do not consume all of my time and energy. I will take time to ponder.

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