Skip to main content

Convo

So we're reading scriptures the other night. We've recently started reading the Book of Mormon over again (we'd finished a couple of weeks ago) and we read in 1 Nephi chapter 8 where Lehi gets the vision of the Tree of Life.



What occurs to me is the difference in the two versions of the Vision that are recorded in the Book of Mormon. Lehi's is one chapter, with the different aspects of the Vision presented pretty much as they were seen in the Vision, with very little exposition or commentary. Nephi's subsequent vision, which occupies 4 chapters (chapters 11-14) focuses actually very little in the specific details of the vision. Instead, his vision is much broader in scope. Nephi actually gets the meaning and interpretation of the things, and as a result his vision is much more nourishing and complete, putting things in the correct context and focusing on Christ as the central part of the plan and history of the world.

As I pointed this out to Elise, we talked about why this would be the case. To me, it boils down to the two verses in chapter 11, verses 3 and 11, where Nephi is asked what his desire is and he responds with the desire to see what his father saw, and to know the interpretation of the things. It's that word - desire - that is key to this difference. Nephi WANTED to know more. He wasn't satisfied with just seeing again what his father had seen. He had a desire to know what it meant, what the implications were, and how it affected his life. We discussed how there are people in the world who are satisfied with a Lehi's Vision portion of the thing - that we can get things easy and simple, without delving deeper into the whithertos and whyfors. But, I said, that's like licking the outside of the watermelon. One can do so and know what a watermelon tastes like, n'est ce pas? But have they had a true experience with the watermelon? No. When you eat a watermelon, first you must cut it open. Then you must get INTO the watermelon, even as the watermelon gets into you. Eating a watermelon is not a passive experience. It is active and two-way... And ONLY THEN can you say you've had an experience with the watermelon.

It's the same way with the things of the Spirit. People SO OFTEN only want to have a casual, passive relationship with the Spirit. They want things spoon-fed to them, not delving deeper, not truly FEASTING on the Word... (see 2 Nephi 31:19-20) I don't know what kind of experience they have, but it seems that they lack desire, true commitment, and real conversion. This doesn't mean that those of us who do desire such things are better or more perfect... Quite the contrary - with greater knowledge comes greater responsibility. But it seems to be that there is no salvation possible in this lukewarm relationship with the Lord and with things of the Spirit. There just isn't.

I'm reminded of Abraham's desire:

2 And, finding there was greater happiness and peace and rest for me, I sought for the blessings of the fathers, and the right whereunto I should be ordained to administer the same; having been myself a follower of righteousness, desiring also to be one who possessed great knowledge, and to be a greater follower of righteousness, and to possess a greater knowledge, and to be a father of many nations, a prince of peace, and desiring to receive instructions, and to keep the commandments of God, I became a rightful heir, a High Priest, holding the right belonging to the fathers. (Abraham 1:2 - emphasis added)

This very closely matches my own desires. I'm no Nephi or Abraham, but in my heart, that's what I truly desire.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Ephesus

Paul got around. Ephesus is right on the Aegean Sea, on the coast of present-day Turkey. Yesterday he was in Galatia, which was much more towards the middle of Turkey. And when he actually wrote these letters, he was in Rome... So the man could travel. He probably walked. Today's item of interest comes from chapter one in Ephesians. Verses 18 and 19 are particularly interesting: 18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power This is not the first time Paul talks about an inheritance. In Galatians he talks about the inheritance that comes of being part of the Abrahamic Covenant. He notes that we are joint-heirs through and with Christ. In Ephesians, he uses the word "adoption" - that we are adopted as the Children of Jesus Chris...

Engaged

Three Dog Night got it wrong.  One is not the loneliest number. They were more accurate when they said Two can be as bad as one.  I really wonder how people can survive Without being fully engaged. How they live through each day Without the intimacy I so very much crave... Maybe I am unusual in my desire  To have this intimacy, To want to feel that soul So close to my own Sharing light and warmth, Sharing love and passion, Sharing life. Alas! Alas! Alas! For when I do seek to share It is often only to be rebuffed Denied Or used up, Sucked dry, And left an empty husk.  I want SO MUCH to share And all I have is the cold, digital world Of typing out a blog.

Lucky!

So Tomorrow is Amie's birthday. The 12 th is Andy's. The 14 th is Alex's. And the 26 th is mom's. Happy birthday everyone. I recently found that a member of our ward has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer has a survivability rate of less than 5% and you never, ever kick it, even if you live. Once diagnosed, people are expected to live about six months. My wife and I were talking about this wonderful woman. There are very few (too few) people in this world who shine. Literally. This sister shines with a light that is perceptible and discernible . The world will literally be a darker place without her in it. Life is short, folks. Too short for hard feelings, too short for pain and misunderstanding. I love you all so much. Sorry this one is such a downer... I don't mean to be lugubrious on your birthdays... I consider myself lucky to be your brother. You have and continue to bless me and my family in many ways, for which I will be eternally gra...