"Now, I have what every true disciple has. It is called the testimony of Jesus. In our day it includes the revealed knowledge that the earthly kingdom—The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—will triumph. In this connection may I set before you this illustration:
The Church is like a great caravan—organized, prepared, following an appointed course, with its captains of tens and captains of hundreds all in place.
What does it matter if a few barking dogs snap at the heels of the weary travelers? Or that predators claim those few who fall by the way? The caravan moves on.
Is there a ravine to cross, a miry mud hole to pull through, a steep grade to climb? So be it. The oxen are strong and the teamsters wise. The caravan moves on.
Are there storms that rage along the way, floods that wash away the bridges, deserts to cross, and rivers to ford? Such is life in this fallen sphere. The caravan moves on.
Ahead is the celestial city, the eternal Zion of our God, where all who maintain their position in the caravan shall find food and drink and rest. Thank God that the caravan moves on!"
This is an allusion, of course, to the Persian saying: The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
In understanding this saying, it is important to understand the nature of the two prime characters - the dog and the caravan. The dog is considered one of the most lowly of creatures, one who turns on it's master when convenient, fickle and proud, while seemingly unaware of their lowly status. The use of dogs in this analogy is with regard to those who are critical, arrogant, or otherwise feel disenfranchised. The caravan is a representation of society at large - a self-contained and -sustaining unit that can withstand even the most vicious attacks with relative impunity. Thus, the caravan moves on.
I think that this has application in our personal lives as well. I quoted in an earlier post about how nothing can shake us if Christ is our Lord and we are His servants. What else could we possibly want in our lives? We cannot stop negative things from happening to us, but we must find the strength to move on. Personally, my strength comes from the Lord. He is as constant as the North Star, as warm as the sun, and as loving as we need.
I also think that it has reference to how we should act when we have critical things to say. Do we act as the dogs, who are eventually disregarded despite their yapping insistence? Or do we stay in the lead of the caravan, helping the body to stay the course, reaching those who are straggling, and assisting everyone to reach their ultimate destination? I hope I am one of the latter, though undoubtedly I have been one of the former. I think it's all about attitude...
When I was growing up, I heard the story of the north wind and the sun. You know this one - the contest to see who could make the man take off his jacket (defenses). As the wind blew, the man pulled his jacket more closely about him, not allowing even a particle of wind into his person. The wind admitted defeat when, under the warming smile of the sun, the man removed his jacket. In my mind's eye, I can see the sun's smile matched by the man's as he walked along his way...
Silly story. Profound implication.
I am still not as warm as I would like to be. But I am trying.
Comments
The analogy is apt, and the "dog" paradigm was used by the Savior in the meridian of time, as you know too. Dogs can be loyal and serve their master. If they behave, they fill the measure of Heavenly Father's creation. If they bark like dogs, they are following the laws of nature, and will die by the tooth and claw, in the end. It is a very apt analogy to man's circumstance as well.