[KeithLBrown]

I remember when I was still a member of the Baptist faith and attending Bible College, one of the most important lessons that I learned from my professors was that the best commentary on the Scriptures is the Scriptures themselves. I find that to certainly be true as I read and study the Scriptures and endeavor to liken them unto myself. There is so much we can learn if we prayerfully seek for knowledge and understanding as we read and ponder the Scriptures. That is one reason that I love to read the Scriptures again and again.

Yesterday I mentioned that the theme that stuck out in my mind was the commandments of God must be fulfilled.Today's reading follows in that same pattern of thought by teaching us that ". . . .a man must be obedient to the commandments of God" (1 Nephi 22:30), and ". . . .if ye shall be obedient to the commandments, and endure to the end, ye shall be saved at the last day, and thus it is amen" (1 Nephi 22:31). As we learn in 1 Nephi chapter 18, it is our obedience to the commandments of God that yields the greatest blessings.

One of things that God commands us to do is to preach His Gospel and to declare repentance unto the people. As given in a revelation through the Prophet Joseph Smith to both John and Peter Witmer this is "the thing which will be of the most worth unto you" (see D&C 15, 16). As we preach His Gospel and declare repentance unto the people, we are to speak His words which He has given us according to His commandments.

As we live our lives, we should strive to be less like Nephi's brothers Laman and Lemuel who were constantly murmuring, complaining, and disobeying the commandments of the Lord, and more like Nephi who even through trials and hardships remained faithful and obedient to the commandments of the Lord. The Lord said "Go" and Nephi went. The Lord said "Do" and Nephi did. He did not stop to constantly ask the Lord "why?", but instead he determined in his mind and heart that whatever the Lord commanded, that is what he should be doing. As we labor in our Heavenly Father's vineyard, may we be found to be faithful and obedient servants doing those things which He commands us to do.