"And seeing the people in a state of such awful wickedness, and those Gadianton robbers filling the judgment-seats—having usurped the power and authority of the land; laying aside the commandments of God, and not in the least aright before him; doing no justice unto the children of men;
Condemning the righteous because of their righteousness; letting the guilty and the wicked go unpunished because of their money; and moreover to be held in office at the head of government, to rule and do according to their wills, that they might get gain and glory of the world, and, moreover, that they might the more easily commit adultery, and steal, and kill, and do according to their own wills—
Now this great iniquity had come upon the Nephites, in the space of not many years; and when Nephi saw it, his heart was swollen with sorrow within his breast; and he did exclaim in the agony of his soul:
Oh, that I could have had my days in the days when my father Nephi first came out of the land of Jerusalem, that I could have joyed with him in the promised land; then were his people easy to be entreated, firm to keep the commandments of God, and slow to be led to do iniquity; and they were quick to hearken unto the words of the Lord—
Yea, if my days could have been in those days, then would my soul have had joy in the righteousness of my brethren."
Helaman 7:4-8
I like this story where Nephi is praying in his garden (which is by a busy street), and the people gather together to find out why he is so upset. God definitely had a hand in that, and in what happens later. And I think it shows that God can work with us even when we are sad or going through really hard things, if we are open to the Spirit.
Nephi wanted to live in a different time, when things were better. And I think we, too, sometimes wish that we could live in a time or place where there wasn't so much corruption and greed, or where there were more people who listened to God and did good things.
The thing is, I think part of it is looking back with rose-colored glasses. We've read about the time that he is wishing for, and I think he might be overlooking the fact that Nephi had to flee with a bunch of others so that his brothers wouldn't murder him. It's similar with us. We long for different things, but every time and place in mortality has its challenges, and its difficult work.
The other part of that longing I think is for something we all want, but is something we partially have to build and something that is also waiting for us in the resurrection... a united, faithful, group that we can be part of. People who lift each other up and help each other succeed. This is something we can have in families and friendships, and in wards and branches as we work for them. We can spread good, and lift others, and we can make a difference in the world as we do good to others, no matter how they treat us in return.
Today, let's direct our longings into building good and uplifting relationships and spaces. Let's listen to God as he whispers in our hearts about what we can do and build and be. Let's make a difference despite the wickedness in the world, and be God's hands to help others and make things better.
