His Own Purposes

As we read in 1 Nephi 19 we can learn important things about the way that our Father, God works with us. 

We read that Nephi said he made an additional record even before he was commanded...

Therefore, the Lord used what Nephi had already done for His own purposes. 

Sometimes the Lord can out right give us personal revelation on what we should do and sometimes He uses what we are already doing on our own accord to work for our good , or in this case to work for the good of all mankind , as w e do know the Lord was aware that Martin Harris would lose pages of the Book of Mormon in which case the additional record allowed for the preparations of this event. 

I am reminded of one of my favorite talks by Neal A Maxwell a he states:

"Recall the new star that announced the birth at Bethlehem? It was in its precise orbit long before it so shone. We are likewise placed in human orbits to illuminate. Divine correlation functions not only in the cosmos but on this planet, too. After all, the Book of Mormon plates were not buried in Belgium, only to have Joseph Smith born centuries later in distant Bombay. The raising up of that constellation of “wise” Founding Fathers to produce America’s remarkable Constitution, whose rights and protection belong to “every man,” was not a random thing either (see D&C 101:77–78, 80). One historian called our Founding Fathers “the most remarkable generation of public men in the history of the United States or perhaps of any other nation” (Arthur M. Schlesinger, The Birth of the Nation [1968], 245). Another historian added, “It would be invaluable if we could know what produced this burst of talent from a base of only two and a half million inhabitants” (Barbara W. Tuchman, The March of Folly: From Troy to Vietnam [1984], 18). Yet some still settle for an inconsistent or incapable god. We can be so provincial and so self-concerned. God, who oversees the interlacings of galaxies, stars, and worlds, asks us to confess His hand in our personal lives, too (see D&C 59:21). Have we not been reassured about the fall of one sparrow and that the very hairs of our heads are numbered? (see Matt. 10:29–30; D&C 84:80). God is in the details! Just as the Lord knows all of His vast creations, He also knows and loves each in any crowd—indeed, He knows and loves each and all of mankind! 

(see 1 Ne. 11:17). " 

( Encircled in the arms of His Love )

I have felt God use my life for His purposes. At the moments that I feel the confirming joy that the spirit brings, along with deep peace that my actions were being used by Him I have only since desired to be worthy of such a blessing again. 

I feel the hand of God in my life daily through the spirit and through the actions of  others. 

Through these scriptures and my experiences I know that even in a troubled world , we have nothing you fear, only the great  privilege to be His servants.

I say this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. 

http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/19.1,2,3?lang=eng 

 1 And it came to pass that the Lord commanded me, wherefore I did make plates of ore that I might engraven upon them the record of my people. And upon the plates which I made I did engraven the record of my father, and also our journeyings in the wilderness, and the prophecies of my father; and also many of mine own prophecies have I engraven upon them. 

2 And I knew not at the time when I made them that I should be commanded of the Lord to make these plates; wherefore, the record of my father, and the genealogy of his fathers, and the more part of all our proceedings in the wilderness are engraven upon those first plates of which I have spoken; wherefore, the things which transpired before I made these plates are, of a truth, more particularly made mention upon the first plates. 

3 And after I had made these plates by way of commandment, I, Nephi, received a commandment that the ministry and the prophecies, the more plain and precious parts of them, should be written upon these plates; and that the things which were written should be kept for the instruction of my people, who should possess the land, and also for other wise purposes, which purposes are known unto the Lord.