“A Wise Purpose” – Alma 37:2, 12, 14, 18

An important element of faith is trusting that God has good reasons for what He does, even when we don’t understand those reasons.

Nephi tells us that the Lord commanded him to create a record of his ministry “for a wise purpose in him, which purpose I know not” (1 Nephi 9:5). Later, he learned one of the purposes of these records—for the gospel instruction of his descendants—but he still acknowledged that the record had “other wise purposes, which purposes are known unto the Lord” (1 Nephi 19:3).

When Mormon inserted Nephi’s records into his book, he acknowledged that he didn’t know why this was important. “I do this for a wise purpose,” he said. But then, he quickly added, “I do not know all things; but the Lord knoweth all things which are to come” (Words of Mormon 1:7).

When Alma passed on the sacred records to his son Helaman, he used the term “a wise purpose” four times to explain the importance of this responsibility:

• “I also command you that ye…keep all these things sacred which I have kept, even as I have kept them; for it is for a wise purpose that they are kept” (Alma 37:2).
• “It may suffice if I only say they are preserved for a wise purpose, which purpose is known unto God” (Alma 37:12).
• “God has entrusted you with these things, which are sacred, which he has kept sacred, and also which he will keep and preserve for a wise purpose in him” (Alma 37:14).
• “[The Lord] promised unto [our fathers] that he would preserve these things for a wise purpose in him” (Alma 37:18).

Today, I will trust in the wise purposes of God. I will obey His commandments in faith, believing that He has good reasons for the commandments He gives, even if I do not yet understand them.