1 Nephi 19:7

In verse 7, Nephi is just coming off from talking about the sacred nature of the Small Plates and the weakness he has in writing and errors. He states that there exist some things that some men, which includes women, esteem of great worth. It is of a great worth unto body and soul. These same things are set at naught by others, trampling them under their feet. It is sad, but true, the statement that Nephi makes about the very God of Israel men do trample under their feet. He clarifies this by saying that men do this when they set at naught His counsels. It is interesting that Nephi uses the word counsels. I believe that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, in addition to giving commandments, counsel us. They do so through the Holy Ghost. It may even be through one of our spiritual leaders who is inspired by the Holy Ghost. We could be counseled by our spouse, parents, bishop, stake president, the prophet and apostles, and ultimately Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. What do we do when we hear and understand their counsel? We are faced with a choice to follow it or not. Either choice will produce consequences. If we put our faith in the inspired counsel and apply it and follow it, we will receive the blessings that are the consequence. If we do not, we forfeit the blessings and the potential progression (whether spiritual or temporal) that would have come. Three scriptures come to mind:

Doctrine and Covenants 130:20-21:

"20 There is a ^alaw, irrevocably decreed in ^bheaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all ^cblessings are predicated—

"21 And when we obtain any ^ablessing from God, it is by ^bobedience to that law upon which it is predicated."

I think this means if we obey a commandment we will receive a blessing. This is a binding contract with the Lord from before the very beginning. It is true.

Alma 12:10:

"10 And therefore, he that will ^aharden his heart, the same receiveth the ^blesser portion of the word; and he that will ^cnot harden his heart, to him is ^dgiven the greater portion of the word, until it is given unto him to know the mysteries of God until he know them in full."

This shows the consequences of those who follow the Lord's counsel and those who do not. Those who do are added upon and added upon until they know all. If they don't they will receive a lesser portion.

Doctrine and Covenants 98:12 (see also Isaiah 20:10, 13; 2 Nephi 28:30; Doctrine and Covenants 128:21):

"12 For he will ^agive unto the faithful line upon line, precept upon precept; and I will ^btry you and prove you herewith."

This shows that our progression is little by little according to our obedience to the laws of God. This is how he tries us and proves us.

I may have mentioned this before, but I think about the New Covenant of the Book of Mormon (see Doctrine and Covenants 84:57). Are we trampling under our feet this sacred work? Do we set it at naught as Nephi has said. The Book of Mormon is the very sacred record that Nephi was writing on and about, too.