Scripture Thought
1 Nephi 5:7-9
These verses left me full of questions, how about you? Let's look at them and liken them.
vs. 7 - When the boys had returned from their missions, their parents rejoiced. And SHE was comforted. This indicates to me that Sariah listened to her husband, followed him, but was not truly comforted until her children were returned to her. I am not trying to down play or criticize Sariah, I want to make that clear. However, I do wonder about the witness she received. I try to put myself in her shoes. I know how it is when my children are not all with me. I love them. When they are struggling, facing challenges that are difficult to them, or in locations where I know that they are going to have to act for themselves, live off there own personal testimonies, and choose for themselves without my guidance; I am often restless. Is this the message that the author is trying to convey? I don't know. Was she wrong in feeling this way? I don't think so. I can understand her emotional anxiety. I live it, often. Yet, I wonder, is there more?
Lehi had just born witness to her of his faith. He testified that he knew the Lord would deliver his sons from any danger, though it was hard, he sent them forward in faith and then put his full and complete trust in the Lord. Is this the message we are to receive? If we compare the two, we see that there is differences. Sariah was faithful. She continued to follow her husband, but her heart was not completely with her. It makes me wonder if she continued to let the anxieties of life sway her a little. In those times, did the swaying lead to short bouts of doubt? Lehi brought the power of the same witness to her. It was now up to her to receive it. She received most of it, but does not seem to have received all of it. Do you have the faith of Lehi or Sariah?
vs 8 - Once her boys were back, she received the complete witness. It now sounds like her faith was complete and unshakable. Why did she need to have this physical witness to make it complete? Does that make her testimony and witness any less than another? I would say not. We are all tried, we all learn differently, some move forward regardless, other need a physical boot to move us. In this case Sariah needed the boot to get her moving. Once she had it, it was enough. Are we waiting for a boot? Are we waiting in the right places for it? Will we recognize it when it comes?
vs 9 -They did rejoice exceedingly. I wonder whether they did this in the presence of their children. Did they show their children how to communicate with the Lord in gratitude? Do we do the same in our callings, our faith, our rejoicings...etc.? Do our children know? Do our friends know? Is there any doubt? Think about it. Does it show in the way we talk about our callings or does it look like we are waiting for a boot?
These verses left me full of questions, how about you? Let's look at them and liken them.
vs. 7 - When the boys had returned from their missions, their parents rejoiced. And SHE was comforted. This indicates to me that Sariah listened to her husband, followed him, but was not truly comforted until her children were returned to her. I am not trying to down play or criticize Sariah, I want to make that clear. However, I do wonder about the witness she received. I try to put myself in her shoes. I know how it is when my children are not all with me. I love them. When they are struggling, facing challenges that are difficult to them, or in locations where I know that they are going to have to act for themselves, live off there own personal testimonies, and choose for themselves without my guidance; I am often restless. Is this the message that the author is trying to convey? I don't know. Was she wrong in feeling this way? I don't think so. I can understand her emotional anxiety. I live it, often. Yet, I wonder, is there more?
Lehi had just born witness to her of his faith. He testified that he knew the Lord would deliver his sons from any danger, though it was hard, he sent them forward in faith and then put his full and complete trust in the Lord. Is this the message we are to receive? If we compare the two, we see that there is differences. Sariah was faithful. She continued to follow her husband, but her heart was not completely with her. It makes me wonder if she continued to let the anxieties of life sway her a little. In those times, did the swaying lead to short bouts of doubt? Lehi brought the power of the same witness to her. It was now up to her to receive it. She received most of it, but does not seem to have received all of it. Do you have the faith of Lehi or Sariah?
vs 8 - Once her boys were back, she received the complete witness. It now sounds like her faith was complete and unshakable. Why did she need to have this physical witness to make it complete? Does that make her testimony and witness any less than another? I would say not. We are all tried, we all learn differently, some move forward regardless, other need a physical boot to move us. In this case Sariah needed the boot to get her moving. Once she had it, it was enough. Are we waiting for a boot? Are we waiting in the right places for it? Will we recognize it when it comes?
vs 9 -They did rejoice exceedingly. I wonder whether they did this in the presence of their children. Did they show their children how to communicate with the Lord in gratitude? Do we do the same in our callings, our faith, our rejoicings...etc.? Do our children know? Do our friends know? Is there any doubt? Think about it. Does it show in the way we talk about our callings or does it look like we are waiting for a boot?
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