1 Nephi 8
1 Nephi 8
This is one of those chapters I should have split between two days. Such a smorgasbord of imagery and doctrine! I would develop carpal tunnel if I tried to write everything I felt and thought as I read today. So, I won't. But I will share what truly struck not only my mind this morning, but my very soul.
I noticed something that I had looked over until now that, for some reason, holds great significance for me today. It was the point where Lehi's dream started. The vision didn't start at the tree, but in a dark and dreary waste. And Lehi didn't just see it, but he was in it - for many hours - and he become very afraid.
For me, I personally don't enjoy the dark and dreary times in my life where I have felt truly alone, or afraid. I have prayed during those times and have been blessed to feel His love through the darkness. I appreciate it so much more, because I have felt the contrast in my life. It causes to me call to others, to teach and to share, as Lehi did, imploring people to come to God. The contrast, in my mind, makes the gospel and His love easier to recognize and cling to.
This is one of those chapters I should have split between two days. Such a smorgasbord of imagery and doctrine! I would develop carpal tunnel if I tried to write everything I felt and thought as I read today. So, I won't. But I will share what truly struck not only my mind this morning, but my very soul.
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| Lehi's Dream |
I noticed something that I had looked over until now that, for some reason, holds great significance for me today. It was the point where Lehi's dream started. The vision didn't start at the tree, but in a dark and dreary waste. And Lehi didn't just see it, but he was in it - for many hours - and he become very afraid.
I wondered why the vision started here, in this scary place, then it dawned on me that only when Lehi had experienced the dark and dreary for himself would he have truly understood the need for the Lord's help, and the felt extreme contrast between the bitter darkness and the safety and light of the tree and the sweetness of the fruit.
He prayed in the darkness, and only AFTER he prayed was he led in the direction of the tree.And the fruit that he tasted filled his soul with exceedingly great joy. In a later chapter, we learn that the fruit represents the love of God.
God wants us to come to Him. That is why His mercies are tender (v. 7), because His love for us, His children, is tender. Nephi understood that relationship- the love a parent has for their child - as he recorded his own father's efforts to teach Laman and Lemuel "...with all the feelings of a tender parent..." (v 37)
I leave my scripture study this morning with a strengthened testimony of God, my Father in Heaven, and His love for me. There is purpose in the dark times, there is help for me, there is safety for my soul. That brings me exceedingly great joy.
Even though I have read this chapter many times, I dont remember vs 15, Lehi speaking in a loud voice. Awesome, this gave me hope that even some of our family discussions might be pleasing to God.
ReplyDeleteI also wonder where the man in the white robe went?
I am grateful for the plan & God's focus on family through individual salvation. Both those here & on the other side.
Verse 24 talks about people pressing forward through the mist of darkness and “clinging’ to the rod of iron and they partook of the fruit of the tree of life. So, there they are having gone through all they did to partake of God’s love and then what happens?? They are mocked by the people in the great and spacious building. So, they become ashamed. Verse 28 tells us they were ashamed because of those that were “scoffing” at them. They fell away into forbidden paths and were lost. This comes back to being more concerned with what the world thinks than what God thinks. We should be more concerned with the opposite.
ReplyDeleteTo back up to verse 8 where in his dream, Lehi was in darkness for “many hours” and he began to pray. It was after he prayed that more light and knowledge were bestowed on him. (After a trial of our faith come the blessings.) He is a great example of keeping the faith, turning to the Lord in darkness, loving his family and wanting them to partake of the blessings of eternal life, never giving up on family.
Lehi wanted all people to partake of the fruit of the tree of life, but in particular he wanted his family to partake. You can feel the strong desire of his heart that his entire family be able to partake of the fruit of the tree of life. He wants his entire family to receive the blessings of eternal life TOGETHER. How many of us can relate exhorting their children with all the “feeling of a tender parent”? Like Lehi, we want our children to keep the commandments and we hope the Lord will have mercy on them and not cast them off.
I am reminded of counsel given to the saints by President Ezra Taft Benson in conference address in April of 1984. He felt strongly, as Lehi did, that he wanted his family to all be worthy to be together in heaven. “As parents and grandparents in Zion, it has been the shared hope of my wife and me that all of us will be together in the eternities—that all will be worthy, without a single empty chair.”
Interesting, because verse 8 struck me as well. I don't think the "space of many hours" is there to let us know that this is a condition of mortality, rather I think it is a judgement placed on man in that they we tend to mull in darkness for a long time before we think "Maybe I should ask God for help". How long do you wait before you ask God for help when you've lost your keys, when you are struggling with a temptation, when you want a priesthood blessing but don't ask for it, etc. We need to stop meandering in darkness and ask for God's mercy right when we realize "I don't know what to do". I often arrive at moments where I say to myself "I don't know what I'm going to do" and then I think to myself, "I should have asked for help a long time ago".
ReplyDeleteOne example of this is when my daughter was young we moved to a new apt with dogs in the back yard. She wouldn't go to be for months. I had to lay by her on the floor and when I tried to get up she would wake up. It was very stressful and there arrived a point where I said "I can't take this anymore, I don't know what to do". It was then I felt I needed to turn it over to the Lord. I just waited to long to ask for help. Now, I don't recall the resolution, but I do know if was resolved fairly quickly after that point.
editing now: "it is a judgement placed on man in that we tend to mull in darkness"
Delete"she wouldn't go to bed for months"
"it was resolved"
sorry!
Verse 3 says, "And behold, because of the thing which I have seen, I have reason to rejoice in the Lord because of Nephi and also of Sam; for I have reason to suppose that they, and also many of their seed, will be saved." Then verse 4, "But behold, Laman and Lemuel, I fear exceedingly because of you..." You can bet Lehi's greatest desire was to have his whole family together forever and how great his rejoicing would be if that were to happen. How sad to fear and believe that half your family will choose to not follow the Lord and be saved.
ReplyDeleteAfter Lehi made it through his dark and dreary waste and made it to the fruit, he said, "...it was most sweet, above all that I ever before tasted." You can enjoy the good times and know they are special, but I don't think that fruit would have tasted as good if he hadn't had to walk through the waste place first. It would have been sweeter but I'm sure it was even sweeter because of the time he previously spent in the darkness.
After he made it through he saw his family who "...knew not whither they should go." They had to look to Lehi who had made it to the tree to find their way just as we have to rely on others, and especially God, to find our way.
And finally, verse 21 talks about the numberless concourses of people pressing forward to find the path and once they found it they followed it until they made it to the tree. Endure to the end. Press forward with faith. Find the path that leads to eternal life and the love of God and STAY ON THAT PATH.
I am playing catch up on my comments.... One point... How easily people are swayed because of the teasing and scoffing of others. How much more important it is that we constantly hold fast to the principles that God would have us do/be and not worry about what others think and let them into our heads.
ReplyDeleteI am like Angie, and I am working at catching up. I am only a few days behind. On Sunday in Gospel Doctorine class we talked about the sacrifice Christ made for all of us, and it got me thinking, as I read this chapter... How good am I about sharing the gospel? I think I am a pretty good example, but I don’t verbalize my testimony well. Sometimes I don't think I am like Lehi, and testify of Christ with all I meet. While I don’t think this is a problem, I think there is always more that I can and should do. Then while reading this, it "occurred" to me. I am who I am, I was created to be a people watcher. I LOVE to hear the stories from others, I love to hear how they were able to become who they are. In many ways I am like Nephi and Lehi. I stand at the tree and look about wondering who I can help? How can I help? Who can I connect that person struggling to? I strive to be the example to others, I want to help them by connecting them to things I hope will help them. I am a connector, this is WHO I am meant to be.
ReplyDeleteTeresa Zwygart