Scripture Thought 10/23/08
1 Nephi 2:4
What a powerful illustration of sacrifice. Lehi was willing to give up everything in his life that was material. He did so in a manner that had others following him. It is also important to note that he was not the only one making sacrifice. His family gave up a great deal as well. What does that say about them? What does that say about Lehi as a father and/or patriarch?
I often wonder about each of his family members. I wonder how they followed and what we can learn from them. We know that they each had their agency. We know that some followed willingly and other not so willingly. Why? This what it all comes down to. Why did they follow?
Lehi talked of a promised land. Did some think that following would mean that someday they would inherit this land? Could they have chosen to stay and claim the inheritance that already existed before them?
Or were they too young? Was it because they knew that they did not have the scruples of their father? Did they know that if he left and they tried to take over that their inheritance would be for not because they would waste it away? Did they realize that they needed their father to survive, even though the road may be rough at times.
I think this is a great parallelism. We are nothing without our Father in Heaven. We are better off following than we are if we do not follow. It is also important to note that how we follow will make or break us. If we are going to follow we need to put our hearts into it. We need to understand who we are following. We need to know why we are following Him. We need to be able to defend our position on following at any given time.
That stance should not be just because Sam followed, because Laman is there, or because I am being forced by my parents. That stance should be ours and ours only. We are the only ones who can find that position for ourselves.
What a powerful illustration of sacrifice. Lehi was willing to give up everything in his life that was material. He did so in a manner that had others following him. It is also important to note that he was not the only one making sacrifice. His family gave up a great deal as well. What does that say about them? What does that say about Lehi as a father and/or patriarch?
I often wonder about each of his family members. I wonder how they followed and what we can learn from them. We know that they each had their agency. We know that some followed willingly and other not so willingly. Why? This what it all comes down to. Why did they follow?
Lehi talked of a promised land. Did some think that following would mean that someday they would inherit this land? Could they have chosen to stay and claim the inheritance that already existed before them?
Or were they too young? Was it because they knew that they did not have the scruples of their father? Did they know that if he left and they tried to take over that their inheritance would be for not because they would waste it away? Did they realize that they needed their father to survive, even though the road may be rough at times.
I think this is a great parallelism. We are nothing without our Father in Heaven. We are better off following than we are if we do not follow. It is also important to note that how we follow will make or break us. If we are going to follow we need to put our hearts into it. We need to understand who we are following. We need to know why we are following Him. We need to be able to defend our position on following at any given time.
That stance should not be just because Sam followed, because Laman is there, or because I am being forced by my parents. That stance should be ours and ours only. We are the only ones who can find that position for ourselves.
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