January 8, 2026

I love the scripture 1 Nephi 3:7. My parents choose this as our family scripture when we were young, and to this day my children now quote it regularly with us. I used to think it meant that we'll be able to do whatever the Lord asks of us. While that is true, I see it slightly different today. "Save He shall provide a way" implies that we CAN'T do everything He commands us, at least not on our own or by taking just any path. We can only do all things He commands if we accomplish them the "way" He provides. The way is Christ. Heavenly Father provided a Savior, and He is the way to accomplish all things which the Lord has commended. Alone end on our own paths, we cannot lift our cross, but yoked with Him, anything is possible.

Why, at times, have some peoples been denied the priesthood? Pharaoh was not of the lineage allowed the priesthood. Only the Levites in the time of Jerusalem had the priesthood. African Americans did not have the priesthood.

Why did the 3 virgins, who were righteous, die but Abraham lived? There's a similar account in Alma.

Alma 14

11 But Alma said unto him: The Spirit constraineth me that I must not stretch forth mine hand; for behold the Lord receiveth them up unto himself, in glory; and he doth suffer that they may do this thing, or that the people may do this thing unto them, according to the hardness of their hearts, that the judgments which he shall exercise upon them in his wrath may be just; and the blood of the innocent shall stand as a witness against them, yea, and cry mightily against them at the last day.

12 Now Amulek said unto Alma: Behold, perhaps they will burn us also.

13 And Alma said: Be it according to the will of the Lord. But, behold, our work is not finished; therefore they burn us not.

I feel like God allowed the martyrs to return as A) a gift to them to dwell with Him, and B) a testimony against the wicked acts of these men - both stated in Alma. He allowed others (Alma, Amulek, Abraham) to live because they had a with still to do (again, stated by Alma) but I believe also so that there were witnesses on earth as well as in heaven that could testify of these events and show the mercy of God in both outcomes for the purpose of bringing us closer to Christ.

I don't know why God does everything He does, but I know He loves His children.