This week I've been studying in
The Book of Mormon in Ether. I learned an important lesson in Chapter 6. After the Jaredites (the people migrating to the promised land/America after the tower of Babel fell) had done everything they possibly could to prepare themselves for this arduous 1 year journey in boats, they 'commended themselves to the Lord.'
It says in Ether
6:4-12
4 And it came to pass that
when they had prepared all manner of , that thereby they might subsist upon the water, and also
food for their flocks and herds, and beast or animal or fowl that they should carry
with them—and it came to pass that when they had done all these things they got
aboard of their vessels or barges, and set
forth into the sea, commending themselves unto the Lord their God.
5 And it came to pass that the Lord God caused that there should
be a blow upon the face of the waters, the promised land; and thus they were
tossed upon the waves of the sea before the wind.
6 And it came to pass that
they were many times buried in the depths of the sea, because of
the mountain waves which broke upon them, and also the great and terrible
tempests which were caused by the fierceness of the wind.
7 And it came to pass that
when they were buried in the deep there was no water that could hurt them,
their vessels being like unto a dish, and also they were tight like
unto the of Noah; therefore when
they were encompassed about by many waters they did cry unto the Lord, and he
did bring them forth again upon the top of the waters.
8 And it came to pass that the wind did never cease to blow towards
the promised land while they were upon the waters; and thus they were forth before the wind.
9 And they did praises unto the Lord; yea, the brother of
Jared did sing praises unto the Lord, and he did and praise the Lord all the day long; and when the
night came, they did not cease to
praise the Lord.
10 And thus they were driven
forth; and no monster of the sea could break them, neither that could mar them; and they did have light continually, whether it was above the water or
under the water.
11 And thus they were driven
forth, hundred and forty and four days upon the water.
12 And they did upon the shore of the . And when they had set their feet upon the
shores of the promised land they bowed
themselves down upon the face of the land, and did humble themselves before the
Lord, and did shed tears of joy before the Lord, because of the multitude of his over them. (emphasis added)
There is so much in the first chapters of Ether that I have learned from, too much to write here, but pertaining to these few verses, I want to record a little of what I have felt as I have pondered this passage. The journey to the promised land could be likened unto our journey through mortality. I believe that we had a
premortal life during which the Lord helped us to prepare extensively for the trials and tests we would experience on earth. And what is the purpose of our life on earth? To learn and grow and be tested so that we can return back to Heavenly Fathers and receive all the blessings and promises that He has for us.
I've been contemplating lately why life has to be so hard. Recently our friends, Miranda and Jared had a baby girl, Macy. She only lived a few days on this earth and was taken back to her Heavenly home. I have been inspired by their faith as I have read of their experience. (You can read it
here,
here and
here, and I know they would be thankful for your prayers) Although they are facing mountainous waves and great and terrible tempests, they are keeping an eternal perspective. They know that the fierce and furious wind is in the power of a loving and merciful God who is blowing them toward the promised land, their eternal reward. They know Macy is there waiting for them, and they 'have light continually' through the Savior, Jesus Christ. They are recognizing the multitude of God's tender mercies over them, despite all of the struggles of their journey. I am so thankful for their example, and our prayers are with them.
Yesterday, I read the talk,
"Is Faith in the Atonement of Jesus Christ Written in Our Hearts?" by Linda K. Burton It was just what I needed, and it helped me to understand how the Atonement of Christ can be a great power in my life to help me to overcome challenges, to forgive, to repent and be forgiven, and to become the person the Lord wants me to be. The two following quotes from her message touched me deeply and were in harmony with what I am learning in Ether:
"Why does the Lord allow suffering and adversity to come to us in this life?
Simply put, it is part of the plan for our growth and progress! We “shouted for
joy”6 when we knew we would have the opportunity to come to
earth to experience mortality. Elder Dallin H. Oaks taught, “Our needed
conversions are often achieved more readily by suffering and adversity than by
comfort and tranquillity.”
and
"A
few years ago, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland shared his feelings about the
deep-rooted faith of pioneers who pushed toward the Salt Lake Valley even after
the deaths of their children. He said, “They didn’t do that for a program, they
didn’t do it for a social activity, they did it because the faith of the gospel
of Jesus Christ was
in their soul, it was in the marrow of their bones.”
He
expressed, with tender emotion:
“That’s
the only way those mothers could bury [their babies] in a breadbox and move on,
saying, ‘The promised land is out there somewhere. We’re going to make it to
the valley.’
“They
could say that because of covenants and doctrine and faith and revelation and
spirit.”
He
concluded with these thought-provoking words: “If we can keep that in our
families and in the Church, maybe a lot of other things start to take care of
themselves. Maybe a lot of other less-needed things sort of fall out of the
wagon. I’m told those handcarts could only hold so much. Just as our ancestors
had to choose what they took, maybe the 21st century will drive us to decide,
‘What can we put on this handcart?’ It’s the substance of our soul; it’s the
stuff right down in the marrow of our bones.”4
Just as these faith-filled pioneers and just as Miranda and Jared, I want to let the less-needed things fall out of my wagon, and fill it instead with the substance of my soul, with covenants, and revelation, and spirit and doctrine, with my faith in Christ and His infinite Atonement. He truly did calm the sea. But even in the times when the furious winds and waves are beating upon me, I can know that it is because the Lord loves me and knows what will help me get back to him with my family, to be eternally happy. Although Christ doesn't always calm the sea, He is always calling out to me and to you, "Peace be still" and He's on the boat with us helping us move toward our promised land.
I have recently learned to love this song, and it speaks this same message to me.
1. Does
the journey seem long,
The path rugged and steep?
Are there briars and thorns on the way?
Do sharp stones cut your feet
As you struggle to rise
To the heights thru the heat of the day?
2. Is your heart faint and sad,
Your soul weary within,
As you toil ’neath your burden of care?
Does the load heavy seem
You are forced now to lift?
Is there no one your burden to share?
3. Let your heart be not faint
Now the journey’s begun;
There is One who still beckons to you.
So look upward in joy
And take hold of his hand;
He will lead you to heights that are new—
4. A land holy and pure,
Where all trouble doth end,
And your life shall be free from all sin,
Where no tears shall be shed,
For no sorrows remain.
Take his hand and with him enter in.
Text: Joseph
Fielding Smith, 1876–1972
Music: George D. Pyper, 1860–1943
See also "The Atonement," by President Boyd K. Packer
