Verses With Layers

This year I have set a goal to read the Book of Mormon more intently. No skimming. No reading tired, late at night. I am using my spirit eyes to see more clearly what is really being written and my spirit ears to hear more plainly what the Lord is saying – to me.

 

I believe that the Book of Mormon is filled with layers upon layers. I am peeling these layers back and I am seeing glimmers of a once hidden treasure. Something that happens when I read more intently is new meaning is found in scriptures I have read dozens of times. Something I thought was a disappointing snack – or even a split pea soup verse (meaning: some basic nutrition, but definitely doesn’t make you say “wow! delicious!”) – ends up being a spiritual feast that I didn’t expect. I’m picking one today to show you what I mean. Let’s choose the shortest and most boring scripture in the Book of Mormon and pick it apart. Here we go:

1 Nephi 2:15: “And my father dwelt in a tent.”

Not so exciting at first glance, right? But let’s think about the circumstances of Lehi at this time. He’s a dad. A prophet dad. Has a wife, 2 grumpy sons (Laman and Lemuel) and two compliant, supportive sons (Sam and Nephi). They are a pretty average family of 6. They are well-to-do. They have some gold, silver, some other fine things and a nice house in Jerusalem on a large property. Maybe the equivalent today of some nice folks who own a large home, have a few vehicles, maybe a boat too, a steady, well-paying job and some leadership callings in the Church, and a family who looks like they have it all together on the outside – for the most part – except for two of their teenage kids who seem to struggle a bit.

lehis-family-fleeing-at-night-39639-tablet
Painting by Scott Snow. From LDS.org

So, Lehi has a dream – a vision from God – that they should leave their home and flee into the wilderness. I can just picture this: He probably called a family council meeting and told his family they were leaving their home tickedy-boo, because Jerusalem was being destroyed and his life had been threatened. Two probably grumbled, “See, I told you Father! I told you you should stop prophesying!”, and two went with an “I will go and do…” attitude – seeing it was the Lord calling them to leave, not his crazy idea.

Within hours they are off, and here they are, family of six camping in the dusty, hot wilderness, having packed up their provisions and a few tents.

There’s the premise of what leads us to analyzing this scripture, and here are 5 things we learn from Lehi in this:

LESSON 1:

Lehi is obedient. He left his home because the Lord told him to. And he didn’t waste any time either. He didn’t say, “Wait, Lord! I need to sell my precious things so we can have money wherever we are going.” He isn’t just obedient, he is obedient without questioning. He wasn’t blindly obedient, he trusted the Lord with faith-filled obedience.

LESSON 2:

Lehi has faith. He doesn’t press the Lord for questions. He doesn’t know where they are going or what the next step is, but he has faith that the Lord will manifest his plan in due time. He doesn’t say, “Come on, Lord. Please tell me what’s happening here. I just have to know where we are actually going! Then maybe Laman and Lemuel will settle down a bit and we can be a HAPPY family in the wilderness.” No. He doesn’t do that. He teaches his family – by example – what it means to have faith.

LESSON 3:

Lehi is humble. He doesn’t expect blessings from his service in being a prophet. He doesn’t murmur against the Lord, even after He served the Lord in teaching His people. He doesn’t say “Hey guys, the Lord has asked us to leave so we’re not killed….I know….I don’t want to either. You’d think I’d get blessings from all the service I’ve done. I’m not sure why we are having all these trials.”

LESSON 4:

Lehi is patient. The wilderness experience in a tent wasn’t just a camping trip for a few days. It was for 8 years! With many trials along the way. He stuck it out. We know Jerusalem wasn’t actually destroyed for another 600 years! Lehi could have turned back at any time, but he was patient with the Lord and trusted there was a plan in all this. He “…pressed forward with steadfastness in Christ.”

LESSON 5:

Lehi is a covenant-keeper. When things got rough with his kids and with the circumstances they were in, he didn’t just throw in the towel and head back. He didn’t encourage those who wanted to leave to leave, he bolstered his faith and continued teaching truth and doing all he could to follow the Lord’s plan and encouraged others to do the same. Because he followed the Lord, he was strengthened to know what to do in difficult circumstances. He reached for the Lord’s strength to continue to do what was asked, despite trials and hardships. He didn’t give up, or expect things would be easier because of his obedience.

may the lord bless

Every time I read that simple verse, I will think of ways I can be more obedient, faithful, humble, patient and how I can better keep my covenants – even when it doesn’t seem logical to do so. I will have courage to follow the Lord in difficult circumstances and press forward. I will say “I will go and do…” like Nephi and if I am called to do hard things, I will obey.

So next time you read in the Book of Mormon, choose a scripture that seems to have no apparent meaning at first glance, and see what hidden treasure of testimony you can gain by analyzing it; the actual scripture itself and the circumstances surrounding that verse. You may be sniffing out a feast that has been waiting – nice and hot – for you for a long time!


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