Day 4 - Nephi - Champion of Christ, Spiritual Olympian

The 2018 Winter Olympics recently ended. Amazing acts of tremendous athleticism were watched and read about. I've always enjoyed either watching events or reading about them when I was unable to watch. I've been both impressed and inspired as I've learned about the tremendous efforts it takes for athletes to reach the Olympics and reach the ultimate pinnacle of standing on the platform where a gold medal is presented. These athletes exemplify what can happen with high goals, a solid plan, and unwavering determination, which is what it takes to become physical Olympic champions. 

​As impressive as the accomplishments of these athletes are, I am much more impressed as I read in the Book of Mormon about men and women that I consider spiritual Olympians, Champions for Christ (SOCFC). One of my favorite SOCFCs is the prophet Nephi. What a man. What is it about him that is so impressive to me? There a a multitude of things. Here are just a few:

• Nephi was humble. While his older brother's murmured and complained about their situation and would not turn to God for understanding, Nephi humbly called upon God and was visited by His Spirit which softened his heart insomuch that he believed all the words of his father, Lehi, a prophet of God. 
• Nephi loved the Lord and was willing to do whatever God commanded, no matter what it took.
• Nephi was courageous and went forward with faith in God, trusting in His Spirit to guide him, even when he wasn't sure beforehand what he was supposed to do.
• Nephi understood the scriptures and had a firm testimony of Jesus Christ.
• Nephi loved his people and us, as shown by his efforts to "...talk of Christ...rejoice in Christ...preach of Christ...write prophecies" of Christ so that they and we could know "...to what source [we] may look for a remission of [our] sins," (See 2 Nephi 25:25)
• Nephi was a fearless witness of Christ, encouraging everyone who would ever read his words to "feast upon the words of Christ...for the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do," (See 2 Nephi 31:20, 2 Nephi 32:3).
• Nephi was a faithful disciple of Christ to the end of His life.

The list could go on for a long time, but what I've written suffices to give a solid example, from just one of the many that can be found in the Book of Mormon, as to what it takes to become a SOCFC. Nephi had a set goals, He knew Gods Plan, and with undeterred determination, he followed it.

While very few people while ever become physical Olympians, and even fewer will become the Olympic champions invited to come to top platform of medal stand and receive a gold medal, everyone of God's children will have, either in this life or the next, to the opportunity to become spiritual Olympians, to become true Champions of Jesus Christ. It's up to us to take advantage of the opportunity when it comes. "Our decisions," as President Monson taught, "determine our destiny."

Like Nephi, as we know what our ultimate spiritual goal is - "immortality and eternal life," (See Moses 1:39). We've been given a plan, and we can move forward with faith, with the same eternal commitment to Christ displayed by Nephi. We can be coms SOCFCs. It is my personal testimony that this is true and that as we do so, come what may, our lives will be...

WONDERFUL!

---