Retention?

The Lord wants Zoram to stay too. His grace is given to Nephi to help hold him and then convince him to stay. Will not the Lord also give us His grace as we seek to help others to come to Christ and stay? Zoram will learn over time that although it costs him his allegiance to Laban’s cause and household, his choice to remain with Lehi’s family spares him the destruction of Jerusalem and purchases his freedom from servitude - to say nothing of the spiritual effects.

Not the conventional pattern of things — is there a relevant modern parallel? Maybe just in the fact that to help someone stay requires personal and perhaps dramatic attention - something that could grasp them. One significant truth is that God empowers our efforts in those moments because He wants them to stay too. This reminds me of a rock climbing story told by Elder Holland.  

 Where Justice, Love, and Mercy Meet

God strengthened those little arms that day to catch and hold what they shouldn’t have been able to. Most have felt the heartbreak of watching someone we love leave. What lessons about retention can we learn from Nephi, Zoram, and Elder Holland?

 

Nephi as a young new leader

With his heart freshly softened to believe the words of his father, and after having spoken with Sam, Nephi prays for his hard hearted brothers Laman and Lemuel. The Lord tells him: "inasmuch as thou shalt keep my commandments, thou shalt be made a ruler and a teacher over thy brethren" (1 Nephi 2:22). The youngest of the four, Nephi may have been inclined to let this go to his head. After all, "it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion" (D&C 121:39). It's no mystery then that the second and third chapters of this book of books, written for all of us in our weakness, are packed with lessons on righteous leadership. One of my favorites takes place on their trip to back Jerusalem. 

Nephi had a tall task. The Lord told him, "inasmuch as thy brethren shall rebel against thee, they shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord" (1 Nephi 2:21). Nephi must lead his brothers in righteousness in a way that they will choose not to rebel against the leadership of their younger brother. His first test comes in the next chapter when they are less than excited about what the Lord has asked them to do through Lehi, their father. After accepting the task, we learn that "Nephi and [his] brethren took [their] journey in the wilderness... to go up to the land of Jerusalem" (1 Nephi 3:9). I wish we had more of the conversations that may have taken place among the brothers before they left. A good leader is gently persuasive.

The next two verses explain that: "[Nephi] and [his] brethren did consult one with another. And [they] did cast lots--who of us should go in unto the house of Laban" (1 Nephi 3:10-11). A good leader doesn't dictate, he knows that "the power of counseling in council is revelation... [it] is about inviting, receiving, and recognizing revelation" (David A. Bednar, Church News, 17 Nov 2021). He also knows that participation in such a counsel grows each person. I'm so grateful for the opportunities I've been given to counsel with the Lord and His servants on how best to do His work. It has stretched me and filled me. How can I invite more of my ward members, students, colleagues, and children, into the discussion so that we might hear the voice of the Lord more clearly and be drawn to Him in His work?