The 16th chapter of 1st Nephi in the Book of Mormon finds a family in dire, desperate straits.

Circumstances have soured for Lehi and his family during their sojourn through the wilderness. Exhausted, the group has set up camp to get some rest and, most important, find the food they need to survive.

Then tragedy visits. While on a hunting expedition away from camp, Nephi breaks his steel bow. It's evident by the reaction of the others that the family is depending on Nephi's hunting skills and his aptitude with the precious bow.

"My brethren were angry with me because of the loss of my bow, for we did obtain no food.

"And it came to pass that we did return without food to our families, and being much fatigued because of their journeying, they did suffer much for the want of food." (1 Nephi 16:18.)

Not surprisingly, Laman and Lemuel "did begin to murmur exceedingly." But the family's sorry state is most evident when Lehi — their patriarch and prophet — joined in murmuring against God.

At this moment we are reminded of Nephi's spiritual determination. Remember, in an earlier time of trouble, Nephi had pledged to "go and do" whatever the Lord had commanded. Now, despite the hunger in his belly, Nephi again proved to be a faithful young man of action. As those about him were surrendering to despair, he chose to leave his tent and get to work.

"I Nephi, did make out of wood a bow and out of a straight stick, an arrow; wherefore I did arm myself with a bow and an arrow, with a sling and with stones."

Then, in loving deference to his murmuring father/prophet, Nephi asked: "Whither shall I go to obtain food?" (1 Nephi 16:23.)

Amidst difficult times, Nephi kept a prayer in his heart and vigorously worked his arms, legs and wits in a simultaneous effort to better his lot. He was a man of spiritual and physical action.

Nephi's "get-it-done" sensibility recalls young David leaving the safety of his home to go out to confront the giant Philistine to help save Israel. We also read of King Benjamin's humble decision to eschew the fiscal tribute of his people and, instead, provide for himself through his own labor.

The actions of Nephi, the boy David and King Benjamin teach students of the scriptures a timeless truth: God does indeed help those who help themselves. Certainly the Lord wants us to invoke His counsel and assistance when things get tough. But He just as surely expects us to do all that we can to improve our circumstances. When the bow breaks, it's our duty to carve another, fashion a few arrows, gather some stones for the sling and continue with the hunt.

In his October 1991 general conference address, Elder L. Tom Perry of the Quorum of the Twelve spoke of Nephi's willingness to follow God's command to build a ship. Nephi was not a man of the sea. He didn't own the tools necessary for the task. Still, Nephi didn't press the Lord for shipbuilding tools — he simply inquired where he might find the ore to fabricate such implements.

"This is one of the more interesting stories we have in the scriptures because it tells of an instance in which the Lord provided help but then stepped aside to allow one of His sons to exercise his own initiative," said Elder Perry. "I have sometimes wondered what would have happened if Nephi had asked the Lord for tools instead of a place to find the ore to make the tools. I doubt the Lord would have honored Nephi's request. You see, the Lord knew that Nephi could make the tools, and it is seldom the Lord will do something for us that we can do for ourselves.

"The Lord does help when we go to Him in times of need, especially when we are committed to His work and respond to His will. But the Lord only helps those who are willing to help themselves."

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, second counselor in the First Presidency, called such work the antidote for anxiety, an ointment for sorrow and a doorway to possibility.

"When our wagon gets stuck in the mud, God is much more likely to assist the man who gets out to push than the man who merely raises his voice in prayer — no matter how eloquent the oration. President Thomas S. Monson put it this way: 'It is not enough to want to make the effort and to say we'll make the effort. … It's in the doing, not just the thinking, that we accomplish our goals" (October 2009 general conference).