Nephi said to his brothers, "Behold, the Lord esteemeth all flesh in one; he that is righteous is favored of God." We know that God is no respecter of persons, that all men are saved by obedience to the same laws and ordinances of the gospel. And yet, there is a corollary that Nephi rightly points out: "he that is righteous is favored of God." In 1 Samuel 2:30, the Lord said, "them that honour me I will honour," and in John 14:21, he said: "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him". We believe that God loves all of His children, but we also believe, with Nephi, that "he that is righteous is favored of God." Although this truth bothers some people, to think that God could favor those that follow him, believe him, love him, and serve him, Nephi teaches clear doctrine here to us and to his brothers, once again establishing his announced opening thesis that the tender mercies (or the favors) of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith and faithfulness (see 1 Nephi 1:20).
Book of Mormon Central, "Why Did Samuel Say the Lord ‘Hated’ The Lamanites? (Helaman 15:4)," KnoWhy 186 (September 13, 2016).
Book of Mormon Central, "How Can We Be Delivered through the Lord’s Tender Mercies? (1 Nephi 1:20)," KnoWhy 447 (July 5, 2018).