One of the purposes of the Book of Mormon, as defined on its Title Page, is to show us “what great things the Lord has done for [our] fathers.” How does this knowledge help us?
First, knowing what God has done in the past provides a foundation for our faith. When Nephi wanted to convince his brothers to try one more time to obtain the brass plates, he invoked the story of Moses leading Israel through the Red Sea on dry ground. (See 1 Nephi 4:2-3.) When he wanted them to help build a ship, he reminded them of several miraculous stories from the books of Moses, including manna appearing on the ground, water gushing from a rock, and brass serpent which enabled them to heal from poisonous snakebites. (See 1 Nephi 17:23-42.) Whether or not those examples were convincing to his brothers, they clearly gave him optimism that God could perform miracles for them.
Second, many of the “great things” that God did for our ancestors may not have seemed so large at first. Lehi’s discovery of the Liahona was certainly a miracle, but its full impact only became clear over time. As they began to understand how it would help them in their journey, Nephi observed, “Thus we see that by small means the Lord can bring about great things” (1 Nephi 16:29; see also Alma 37:6-7, 38-42). Some of the “small miracles” we experience today may look much larger when we have more perspective.
Third, remembering how God has blessed others keeps us humble. We are less likely to take undue credit for our advantages and accomplishments when we recognize how much God blesses His children. The angel who appeared to Alma admonished him, “Go, and remember the captivity of thy fathers…and remember how great things he has done for them” (Mosiah 27:16; see also Alma 36:2, 29). Two Jaredite kings—Orihah and Shule—managed to stay humble by remembering the great things the Lord did for their fathers. (See Ether 6:30, Ether 7:27.)
A quick note about the phrases “what great things” and “how great things.” Both phrases appear in the Book of Mormon, as they do in the King James Version of the Bible. In the New Testament, both phrases are translations of a single Greek word, hosos (ὅσος), which simply means “how much,” or “how many.” In the first edition of the Book of Mormon, the Title Page said “how great things,” but from the second edition on, it was revised to “what great things,” which sounds more intuitive. Since both phrases have the same meaning, the change appears to be inconsequential.
Today, I will remember the miracles God has performed for people who lived before me. I will trust that He will also perform miracles for me. I will recognize that apparently small miracles may turn out to be larger than I thought. And I will strive for humility, knowing that I am the beneficiary of generations of blessings from Him.