"And it came to pass that when my father had read and seen many great and marvelous things, he did exclaim many things unto the Lord; such as: Great and marvelous are thy works, O Lord God Almighty! Thy throne is high in the heavens, and thy power, and goodness, and mercy are over all the inhabitants of the earth; and, because thou art merciful, thou wilt not suffer those who come unto thee that they shall perish!"
Who Is the Lord?
A devotional reading of 1 Nephi 1:14
1 Nephi 1:14 gives us one of the earliest testimonies in the Book of Mormon, and it answers the question “Who is the Lord?” not by definition, but by revelation. As we sit with Nephi’s record, we discover that the Lord reveals Himself through His attributes, His posture toward His children, and His covenantal character.
This simple clear verse teaches about who He is.
1. The Lord Is the God of Marvelous Works
“Great and marvelous are thy works…”
We learn that the Lord is not distant or passive. His works are active, present, and awe‑invoking.
He is the God whose actions in the world are meant to awaken us, steady us, and draw us toward Him.
Who is the Lord?
He is the One whose works are so great that they move us to worship.
"In word and in deed Jesus was trying to reveal and make personal to us the true nature of His Father, our Father in Heaven."
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland — “The Grandeur of God” (October 2003)
This talk pairs perfectly with 1 Nephi 1:14
Elder Holland bears witness that God is not distant, abstract, or passive.
He teaches that the Lord’s works are not only marvelous—they are meant to reveal His nearness, His character, and His love.
This aligns seamlessly with our section:
▪︎ We testify that the Lord’s works awaken us.
▪︎ Elder Holland testifies that God reveals
Himself through His works.
▪︎ We emphasize that His actions draw us
toward Him.
▪︎ Elder Holland emphasizes that God’s works
show His desire to be close to us.
Key themes from the talk that reinforce this section
▪︎ God’s works reveal His nature.
Elder Holland teaches that everything God
does is meant to show us who He is—His
compassion, His power, His mercy.
▪︎ God is not far from us.
He explains that the Lord’s marvelous works
are expressions of divine closeness, not
distance.
▪︎ Christ shows us the Father.
Elder Holland’s witness that Christ reveals
the Father’s heart pairs beautifully with
Nephi’s witness that God’s works reveal His
character.
▪︎ The Lord’s works move us to worship.
Elder Holland’s entire message is a call to
reverence, awe, and gratitude—exactly the
posture your section invites.
One‑Sentence Fit
Elder Holland’s “The Grandeur of God” magnifies our testimony that the Lord’s marvelous works are meant to awaken us, steady us, and draw us into worship.
2. The Lord Is God Almighty
“O Lord God Almighty!”
This title tells us that the Lord is not limited.
He is not one power among many—He is the Almighty, the One whose strength is unmatched and whose authority is complete.
Who is the Lord?
He is the God with no rival, no weakness, and no boundary to His power.
"I am the Almighty God"
3. The Lord Reigns From a High Throne
“Thy throne is high in the heavens…”
A throne symbolizes rule, order, and righteous kingship.
A throne “high in the heavens” teaches us that His perspective is perfect, His judgment is pure, and His reign is eternal.
"the light of Christ ... is in the sun, and the light of the sun, and the power thereof by which it was made."
Who is the Lord?
He is our sovereign King—exalted, wise, and perfectly positioned to guide us.
4. The Lord’s Power, Goodness, and Mercy
Cover All People
“Thy power, and goodness, and mercy are over all the inhabitants of the earth…”
This is one of the most expansive declarations in scripture.
The Lord’s reach is not selective. His mercy is not rationed. His goodness is not reserved for a few.
“The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.”
Why it fits:
This is the Old Testament’s clearest parallel to 1 Nephi 1:14.
It names the same three attributes—goodness, mercy, universality.
Who is the Lord?
He is the God whose attributes extend over all of us—every nation, every family, every soul.
The Lord’s Power Extends Over All
Topical Guide section "God, Power of"
When Nephi declares that the Lord’s “power, and goodness, and mercy are over all the inhabitants of the earth,” he is bearing witness of a God whose reach is universal—whose strength is not confined to a people, a place, or a moment.
Across every canon, the scriptures echo this same truth.
Below are five verses—one from each book of scripture—that pair naturally with this theme and with the rest of this section for this Bible study.
“Is any thing too hard for the Lord?”
Why it pairs:
A foundational declaration of divine omnipotence.
It affirms that the God whose mercy covers all people also possesses power without limit.
“With God all things are possible.”
Why it pairs:
Christ Himself names the boundlessness of God’s power.
If nothing is impossible for Him, then no soul lies outside His reach.
“The Lord is able to do all things.”
Why it pairs:
A Book of Mormon witness that God’s power is total and universal.
It reinforces Nephi’s earlier testimony that His goodness and mercy extend over all the earth.
“Hearken unto the voice of him who has all power.”
Why it pairs:
A direct revelation identifying the Lord as the One who holds all power—
the same voice that calls every nation and every soul.
“I am the Lord God Almighty, and endless is my name.”
Why it pairs:
The Pearl of Great Price anchors God’s identity in eternity and omnipotence.
His endless nature matches the endless reach of His mercy.
Closing Thought
Together, these verses form a single witness:
The God who is Almighty is also universally merciful.
His power is not distant—it is protective, creative, redemptive, and extended over all the inhabitants of the earth.
5. The Lord Is Merciful to All Who Come to
Him
"He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him. Wherefore, he commandeth none that they shall not partake of his salvation.
"Behold, hath he commanded any that they should depart out of the synagogues, or out of the houses of worship? Behold, I say unto you, Nay.
"Hath he commanded any that they should not partake of his salvation? Behold I say unto you, Nay; but he hath given it free for all men; and he hath commanded his people that they should persuade all men to repentance.
"Behold, hath the Lord commanded any that they should not partake of his goodness? Behold I say unto you, Nay; but all men are privileged the one like unto the other, and none are forbidden."
“Because thou art merciful, thou wilt not suffer those who come unto thee that they shall perish.”
This is the heart of the verse for 1 Nephi 1:14.
The Lord is not only powerful—He is personal.
He binds Himself to us through mercy.
He receives all who come.
He preserves all who seek Him.
"Behold, he sendeth an invitation unto all men, for the arms of mercy are extended towards them, and he saith: Repent, and I will receive you.
🗝 "Yea, he saith: Come unto me and ye shall partake of the fruit of the tree of life; yea, ye shall eat and drink of the bread and the waters of life freely;
"Yea, come unto me and bring forth works of righteousness, and ye shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire—
"For behold, the time is at hand that whosoever bringeth forth not good fruit, or whosoever doeth not the works of righteousness, the same have cause to wail and mourn."
Who is the Lord?
He is the God who saves, protects, and sustains all who turn toward Him.
"O all ye that are spared because ye were more righteous than they, will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you?
🗝 "Yea, verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me."
The Lord Who Receives All Who Come
In this section we see the Lord’s heart revealed with unmistakable clarity. He does nothing except for the benefit of the world. He invites all. He forbids none. His mercy is extended toward every soul, and His call—“Come unto me”—is spoken without boundary or condition. From Nephi to Alma to the voice of the risen Christ, the message is the same: the Lord receives all who turn toward Him.
He is the God who does not cast out.
He is the God who heals the repentant.
He is the God who offers salvation freely.
He is the God whose arms of mercy remain extended still.
Who is the Lord?
He is the One who saves, protects, and sustains all who come unto Him. His mercy is not abstract—it is personal, covenantal, and available to every willing heart. He draws us, invites us, and promises life to all who return.
May we be among those who hear His voice, trust His promise, and come to Him without delay. His mercy is sure, His welcome is real, and His desire is to receive every soul who seeks Him.
The Lord Who Covers Us All
As we move through Nephi’s testimony, we discover a Lord who is not distant or selective, but present, powerful, and universally merciful. He is the God whose marvelous works awaken us, whose throne steadies us, whose power extends over all people, and whose mercy receives every soul that turns toward Him. These truths do not sit in isolation—they form a single, living portrait of who He is.
We have learned that His works are great and marvelous.
We have learned that He is Almighty.
We have learned that His reign is righteous and eternal.
We have learned that His power, goodness, and mercy cover all the inhabitants of the earth.
And we have learned that He invites all to come unto Him and live.
Who is the Lord?
He is the God who reveals Himself through His works, who governs with perfect wisdom, who strengthens all who seek Him, and who saves all who come unto Him. He is our Almighty, merciful King—near to the humble, patient with the weary, and unfailing toward all His children.
In my own life, I bear witness that these truths are not abstract. They are lived. They are felt. They are proven in the quiet places where the Lord steadies the heart, lifts the mind, and fills the soul with light. I have seen His goodness. I have relied on His power. I have been held by His mercy. And I know He extends the same to every soul who turns toward Him.
May we continue to come unto Him with trust.
May we receive His goodness with gratitude.
May we walk in His mercy with humility.
And may we remember that His power is not distant—it is here, it is real, and it is over all the inhabitants of the earth.
In Jesus name, Amen.
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