Early in the Book of Mormon, you will remember that Nephi and his brothers are sent back a second time.

This time to get wives and to bring an entire family with them.

This was no small task.

Convince a family to go to the middle of nowhere with Lehi and his family.

There is a powerful verse that reminds us how involved the Lord was,

1 Nephi 7:5: And it came to pass that the Lord did soften the heart of Ishmael, and also his household, insomuch that they took their journey with us down into the wilderness to the tent of our father.

This softening was the only way Ishmael and his family would have come.

Recently my son Tanner took a job and started school.

The problem was the job was full time for two weeks, literally meaning he would miss two weeks of precious school time.

He had 3 critical classes where he needed to literally negotiate with the teacher, and pray for a softened heart.

Some of them had policies where if you missed a class you were automatically withdrawn from the class.

Tanner went to each professor individually, two of them were willing and flexible and offered alternatives that he and they could make work.

The third professor was a little more difficult. She said I don’t think it will work, it would be too difficult, you would miss too much.

She had a few other reasons and shared them.

She said I will email you tonight if there is a possibility.

In the meantime, Tanner emailed her with some reasons why it would work and how he would be an exceptional student.

Then the Lord took over.

She emailed him back that night after a day of reflection, and she said we will give it a try.

He is now in the middle of “giving it a try.”

I know Tanner and he will make it work.

“The Lord did soften the(her) heart” and Tanner was able to keep all three classes.

He has his work cut out for him, but it was a blessing to have the Lord soften three hearts to make his schedule work.

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