“I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me. And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins; nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted.” (2 Nephi 4:18-19). I have always read this scripture with the meaning that Nephi is “encompassed about” by the temptations and sins which do so easily beset him. It is a bleak, even hopeless, picture to consider, pressed about on all sides by the fiery darts of the adversary, with no chance for escape or even survival. But I am not sure that what was encompassing Nephi about were his temptations and sins. He says that he was encompassed about not by his temptations and sins but because of them. Consider this: “Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance...Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about.” (Psalms 23:7, 10). Because of his temptations and sins, Nephi was encompassed about by mercy and songs of deliverance. Our Savior is not cutting through a swath of enemies that surround us just to reach our side. His mercy is not meant to be held solely or even primarily in reserve for after we have succumbed to temptations and sins to mitigate the damage and speed us in our recovery. If we will put our trust in the Lord, He will compass us in the sheltering and preserving might of His mercy. “And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.” (D&C 84:88). The Lord knows what we face. He knows how easily beset we are by temptations and sins. That is why He is on our right and on our left, with His angels round about us, and His mercy encompassing us about.
