If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome. Anne Bradstreet

And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them. Ether 12:27

Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season therof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart; Yea, for food and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul. And it pleaseth God that he hath given all these things unto man; for unto this end were they made to be used, with judgment, not to excess, neither by extortion. D&C 59:18-20

Monday, October 8, 2018

Day 2 in the Book of Mormon

Chapter 2 is the command to Lehi to take his family and leave Jerusalem -- leave behind all of their riches and comforts -- and go into the wilderness to live in tents.  I do not like camping.  I camped with my two young children in the 1970s for 6 weeks, and I have never camped since.  Would I have responded positively to the Lord's instructions?  We often stumble when the Lord asks us to do something we already don't like to do.

Laman and Lemuel went with their father, but they didn't go willingly.  I've struggled to understand what was going on with these two oldest sons of Lehi.  They weren't bad people, they just could not get 100% into the game.  That little bit of resistance to what their father had them do exhibited itself through almost constant complaining. 

The difference for Nephi is that pivotal point when he "cried unto the Lord" and the Lord did soften his heart.  Laman and Lemuel never prayed for the Lord to soften their hearts.  They experienced the same things as Nephi, yet their responses were so different.  One single moment of crying unto the Lord made all the difference for Nephi.

The Lord says over and over again that it is through the simple things that His mighty works are accomplished. 

What about Sam -- older than Nephi but younger than Laman and Lemuel.  We never get much of a glimpse into Sam, other than he believed his brother.  He never appears to be jealous of Nephi as were Laman and Lemuel.  Neither Lehi nor Nephi ever chastise him for any reason.  I fast-forwarded in the Book of Mormon to see what kind of blessing Lehi gave Sam just before Lehi died.  Lehi grouped Sam with Laman, Lemuel, and the sons of Ishmael, commanding them to hearken unto the voice of Nephi.  Perhaps the best title for Sam is "loyal follower."  He was where he was supposed to be, doing what he was supposed to be doing.  Some might think that makes him a very unimportant and unimpressive person.  But Christ said, Come Follow Me -- and that's what Sam did.  There is a need for a great many more followers in the Church than leaders.  Even when we serve in leadership positions, we are as often followers as we are leaders.  Lehi blessed Sam and the others that if they kept the commandments of God, they would prosper in the land and be in the Lord's presence.  That is the reward for being a good follower.


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