Nephi had many trials:

• His older brothers yelled at him that he lost their possessions to Laban in Jerusalem.
• His older brothers beat him with a rod.
• His older brothers tried to kill him; they tied him up and left him in the wilderness.
• His older brothers chastised him for breaking his bow.
• His older brothers blamed him and their father for leading them into the wilderness for years and making it difficult on their wives.
• His older brothers mocked him and wanted to kill him and throw him into the ocean.
• His older brothers withheld their labor from him in constructing a ship.
• His older brothers tied him to a pole on the topside of the ship and left him there for days.
• His older brothers vowed to kill him in the promised land because Lehi was dead and he no longer had his father’s protection.

I, Nephi, … having seen many afflictions in the course of my days … 1 Nephi 1:1

But Nephi had great faith and was highly favored of the Lord:

• An Angel appeared to Nephi and his brothers and said the Lord would deliver Laban into their hands in Jerusalem.
• The Lord loosed the bands that held Nephi in the wilderness so he could escape.
• The Lord provided a wife for him (and his brothers) when Ishmael’s family joined them on their journey away from Jerusalem.
• The Lord blessed Nephi to find food for their families after he made a new bow and asked his father where to go to obtain food.
• The Lord strengthened the women to bear their burdens and help the men.
• The Lord showed Nephi, in his mind, how to construct a ship to take them across the many waters to the promised land.
• The Lord showed Nephi, in his mind, Where to find ore to make tools.
• The Lord filled Nephi with the power of God. The Lord shocked Nephi’s brothers so they would know the command to build a ship was from the Lord.
• The Lord calmed the storm after Nephi’s brothers untied him on the ship;  they sailed safely to the promised land.
• The Lord led Nephi and his family away from his brothers who had vowed to kill him.

… But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance. 1 Nephi 1:20

Nephi’s example is powerful to me and strengthens my testimony.

• I love Nephi’s faith and unflinching trust that the Lord will provide.

I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them. 1 Nephi 3:7

• I love Nephi’s wisdom in putting his faith in the Lord instead of in other people.

O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm. 2 Nephi 4:34

• I love Nephi’s teaching to press forward and “feast” upon the words of Christ.

Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life. 2 Nephi 31:20

• I love what Nephi said about Christ.

Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do. 2 Nephi 32:3