Morning Session: Elder Neal A. Maxwell
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Laman and Lemuel murmured, because they did not know the dealings of God.
"Failing to understanding the dealings of the Lord with his children — meaning his relations with and treatment of his children — is very fundamental. Murmuring is but one of the symptoms, and not the only consequence either; in fact, this failure affects everything else."
Many see God as an unreachable or diminished deity. "By believing in such a disabled God, people can do pretty much as they please. It is not many steps further to saying there is no God, therefore no law and no sin."
Failing to understand God's "dealings" sufficiently, Laman and Lemuel missed the most important attribute of God's character — his love.
The "dealings" of God include using prophets to warn people.
Laman and Lemuel did not understand that a tutoring God may require difficult things of his children. "Laman and Lemuel simply didn't share Nephi's confidence that the Lord would never command his children to do difficult things, except the Lord prepares the way."
Although Nephi did not know the meaning of all things, he knew God loved his children.
God's love for his children is most profoundly expressed in his gift of Jesus, their Redeemer.
