Hold To The Rod

7/8/2013 I read in the Book Of Mormon 1Nephi chapter's 6-10;

    So much is contained in these five chapters! I have never had this much fun camping and hiking before ... ever! 
My thoughts concerning these things have been, above all, obedience! I think of what Nephi and his brothers went through to get the records from Laban. Then they come back only to have their dad send them back again to get Ishmael and his family to join them on their journey! Can you imagine? I get annoyed if I have too many errands to run (in my car!) let alone walking for days to have the joy of confrontation ( as with Laban) and then to have to turn around and go back! Again! But they went. Yes, even Lamen and Lemual went ... and they were all about attitude, constantly ... How many of us are obedient ... but grudgingly? I imagine Lamen saying, " OK, FINE!!! But dad, can you make a list of EVERYTHING you need in Jerusalem, so we only need to take one more trip! It is really going to tick me off if I have to keep going back!!! "  This makes me stop and think ... throughout my life I have pointed the proverbial finger at Lamen and Lemual in haughty derision and whispered, "Can you believe those guys?" When in fact I have lived more than my share of moments "rolling my eyes" "complaining and whining" and getting annoyed or "ticked off" at what I may be asked to do. And then I think of Nephi, who has been a hero of mine throughout my life. He smiles and presses forth ... even to the point of putting his life on the line because his crazy brother's decide to form a small army of rebellion with members of Ishmael's family  to take him out!!! But Nephi presses forward, undaunted. Then he stands bound with cords after being beaten up by his own brothers prays and has the strength to loose them by his faith so he may stand before is family and lead them still! I am telling you what, people, if my siblings had beaten me, bound me up and left me to die, I would not be sticking around! I would get the hec out of Dodge if you know what I mean! Lamen and Lemual had not only seen an angel but they witnessed Nephi having the strength to loosen the bands they tied him with and stand before them again in the name of God! Yet they still had attitude! How many times do they need to be smacked in the head with the proverbial 'two by four" before they straighten up and fly right!?! Hmmm,,, how many times must the Lord hasten me??? (So, I bow my head in shame at how easily I have judged Lamen and Lemual, when in fact, there are many times I am not much better at the obedience thing, than they were.)

          *                                                             *                                                  

    Lehi then has a vision of the Tree Of Life! ( I love this part! )  I love pondering the vision, its symbolism, and how it applies to my life and the world we live in today. Especially now, with some of the social issues at the forefront of our society! How many of us are afraid to take a stand, or to partake of the gospel and live it out loud!  1Nephi 8: 27-28;

"And it was filled with people, both old and young, both male and female; and their manner of dress was exceedingly fine; and they were in the attitude of mocking and pointing their fingers towards those who had come at and were partaking of the fruit. And after they had tasted of the fruit they were ashamed, because of those that were scoffing at them; and they fell away into forbidden paths and were lost."

I don't like to be mocked and scoffed at! The moral issues of our society dictate that "If you don't think the way I think then you are not enlightened" ... No matter the issue, it can be so hard to have the strength to stand alone if necessary! And it is becoming increasingly more necessary to stand alone!  On the same hand, How many of us band together as those who hold fast to the iron rod and scorn and scoff and mock those in the great and spacious building? It is a two way street. The issues we deal with in our society are complex. The truth is unyielding, the spiritual consequences are just ... but we don't always understand the whole picture when we judge our fellow man ... it is not right for us to stand at the rod and point in disgust at that we do not understand! Give it to the Lord! Let him be the judge. He has commanded that you love one another ...

" A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another."  -- John 13:34

He hasn't asked us to figure those different than ourselves out ... or condemn them for things they do or the way they live ... He does not ask us to just "deal with it" ... His specific instructions are to love one another ...  Trying to figure out the why of things in this world can make me crazy! That being said, I understand that I do not need to know why, I have faith that God does. I just need to love ... it really is that simple! Isn't it true, that we can fellowship with kindness and the spirit that brings so that others may be desirous to partake of the fruit as well ...just a thought!

This journey through the wilderness is certainly eye opening to me! I am learning things, just in this short time, that I really need to learn about my own life! I can;t wait to find out what happens today! 
        Tune in tomorrow for another episode of ... What are Laman and Lemual up to now ... and how can I learn from them???