How are you being blessed by God with prosperity as you keep His commandments?
"7 And it came to pass that they came many times against us, the Nephites, to battle. But our akings and our bleaders were mighty men in the faith of the Lord; and they taught the people the ways of the Lord; wherefore, we withstood the Lamanites and swept them away out of cour lands, and began to fortify our cities, or whatsoever place of our inheritance.
8 And we multiplied exceedingly, and spread upon the face of the land, and became exceedingly rich in agold, and in silver, and in precious things, and in fine bworkmanship of wood, in buildings, and in cmachinery, and also in iron and copper, and brass and steel, making all manner of tools of every kind to till the ground, and dweapons of war—yea, the sharp pointed arrow, and the quiver, and the dart, and the javelin, and all preparations for war.
9 And thus being prepared to meet the Lamanites, they did not prosper against us. But the word of the Lord was verified, which he spake unto our fathers, saying that: aInasmuch as ye will keep my commandments ye shall bprosper in the land.
10 And it came to pass that the prophets of the Lord did threaten the people of Nephi, according to the word of God, that if they did not keep the commandments, but should fall into transgression, they should be adestroyed from off the face of the land.
11 Wherefore, the prophets, and the priests, and the ateachers, did labor diligently, exhorting with all long-suffering the people to bdiligence; teaching the claw of Moses, and the intent for which it was given; persuading them to dlook forward unto the Messiah, and believe in him to come eas though he already was. And after this manner did they teach them.
12 And it came to pass that by so doing they kept them from being adestroyed upon the face of the land; for they did bprick their hearts with the word, ccontinually stirring them up unto repentance." (Jarom 1: 7-12)
"5 Behold, it came to pass that three hundred and twenty years had passed away, and the more wicked part of the Nephites were adestroyed.
6 For the Lord would not suffer, after he had led them out of the land of Jerusalem and kept and preserved them from falling into the hands of their enemies, yea, he would not suffer that the words should not be verified, which he spake unto our fathers, saying that: aInasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall not bprosper in the land.
7 Wherefore, the Lord did visit them in great judgment; nevertheless, he did spare the righteous that they should not perish, but did deliver them out of the hands of their enemies.
12 Behold, I am Amaleki, the son of Abinadom. Behold, I will speak unto you somewhat concerning aMosiah, who was made king over the bland of Zarahemla; for behold, he being cwarned of the Lord that he should dflee out of the eland of fNephi, and as many as would hearken unto the voice of the Lord should also gdepart out of the land with him, into the wilderness—
13 And it came to pass that he did according as the Lord had commanded him. And they departed out of the land into the wilderness, as many as would hearken unto the voice of the Lord; and they were led by many preachings and prophesyings. And they were admonished continually by the word of God; and they were led by the power of his aarm, through the wilderness until they came down into the land which is called the bland of Zarahemla.
14 And they discovered a apeople, who were called the people of Zarahemla. Now, there was great rejoicing among the people of Zarahemla; and also Zarahemla did rejoice exceedingly, because the Lord had sent the people of Mosiah with the bplates of brass which contained the record of the Jews.
15 Behold, it came to pass that Mosiah discovered that the people of aZarahemla came out from Jerusalem at the time that bZedekiah, king of Judah, was carried away captive into Babylon.
16 And they ajourneyed in the wilderness, and were brought by the hand of the Lord across the great waters, into the land where Mosiah discovered them; and they had dwelt there from that time forth.
17 And at the time that Mosiah discovered them, they had become exceedingly numerous. Nevertheless, they had had many wars and serious contentions, and had fallen by the sword from time to time; and their alanguage had become corrupted; and they had brought no brecords with them; and they denied the being of their Creator; and Mosiah, nor the people of Mosiah, could understand them.
18 But it came to pass that Mosiah caused that they should be taught in his alanguage. And it came to pass that after they were taught in the language of Mosiah, Zarahemla gave a genealogy of his fathers, according to his memory; and they are written, but bnot in these plates." (Omni 1: 5-7, 12-18)
"13 O remember, remember, my son Helaman, how strict are the commandments of God. And he said: If ye will keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land—but if ye keep not his commandments ye shall be cut off from his presence." (Alma 37: 13)
"15 And this was their faith, that by so doing God would prosper them in the land, or in other words, if they were faithful in keeping the commandments of God that he would prosper them in the land; yea, warn them to flee, or to prepare for war, according to their danger;
16 And also, that God would make it known unto them whither they should go to defend themselves against their enemies, and by so doing, the Lord would deliver them; and this was the faith of Moroni, and his heart did glory in it; not in the shedding of blood but in doing good, in preserving his people, yea, in keeping the commandments of God, yea, and resisting iniquity." (Alma 48: 15-16)
And here's the commentary entitled: "As I strive to keep His commandments, God will bless me" :
"The books of Jarom and Omni both describe the relationship between righteousness and prosperity. What do you learn from Jarom 1:7–12; Omni 1:5–7, 12–18? How are worldly definitions of prosperity different from the Lord’s definition? How does the Lord help His people prosper? (see Alma 37:13; 48:15–16)."
When people are righteous, God blesses them with prosperity. Worldly definitions of prosperity focus mostly on temporal things--material terms and money. While the Lord's definition doesn't necessarily mean being successful in material terms. It's more on being successful in rising above challenges because of the strength gained from relying on the Lord and being blessed by His protection. As people exercise their faith, the Lord helps them to prosper by inspiring them to know exactly what to do as they face challenges in different areas of life. This is true in my life. As I keep my faith in the Lord and as I strive to keep His commandments, He's been blessing me by inspiring me to know exactly what to do as I face my challenges. He's been blessing me with ideas as I rely on Him and do my part even with the challenges I am going through at this very moment.
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