Recently, as I was reading about the brother of Jared, I was reminded of a speech one of my public speaking students, Richard, gave who related an experience where he took the time to dig deeper by simply asking, "why." He had just read Ether 3:1.
"And it came to pass that the brother of Jared (now the number of vessels which had been prepared was eight) went forth unto the mount, which they called the mount Shelem, because of its exceeding height, and did molten out of a rock sixteen small stone, and they were white and clear, even as transparent glass, and he did carry them in his hands upon the top of the mount and cried again unto the Lord..."
We all know the rest of the story, how the Lord touched the stones so they glowed and the Jaredites had light in their vessels. Let me quote Richard's speech and the profound deeper meaning he found in this event.
"So the question that began what for me became a spiritual experience which I'll never forget was simply, "why 8 barges and 16 stones?" Knowing that often times numbers are symbolic of something greater, I searched and found out that 8 is a symbol for eternity, and I made the connection between those vessels as being families, because families are eternal. Their destination was the Promised Land, as is ours. And then I thought again about how there were 16 stones and how naturally there would be two in each vessel. Well, I thought about how through marriage, two become one, just as these two stones reside in one vessel. This is where the spirit started to take over, and to me ... it was just amazing, because then things started to unfold before me. Next I thought, "where did Jared take them?" - to the top of the mount, which we know is a symbol of the temple. Then I asked, "What kind of stones were they?" - They were "white and clear, even as transparent glass." That's just how we need to be before we enter the House of the Lord. And what is it that happens in the House of the Lord? Well, Jared asks the Lord "touch these stones O Lord, with they finger, and prepare them that they may shine forth in darkness... that we may have light while we shall cross the sea." In his holy temple we are touched, and we are given light that we may shine forth in darkness. All this came about because a question was asked, and a heart longed to know." -Richard Gneiting
I'm on track with the goal I set at the beginning of the year to to complete the Book of Mormon is three months - finishing it just before General Conference. This is the timetable President Hinckley challenged us to do several years ago. For me there has been value in moving along fairly quickly, about six pages per day, to appreciate the full story of the rise and fall of the Nephites. And my mind and heart have been enlightened by many passages that have touched me and I've been able to use in my daily life. But once I've finished this reading of the Book of Mormon, I think I'll go back and really study and ponder certain chapters and verses and "dig deeper" like Richard did, and ask "why?"
Whatever method you choose to study the scriptures, at whatever level, I would encourage you to do as President Benson taught - to make the Book of Mormon as least a portion of your daily scripture study. I'm impressed when I visit Allison and Riley that they gather the family together morning and evening to read the scriptures. My experience has been that they read from the Old Testament or the New Testament or other standard works for one of those times, but the other time it's the Book of Mormon. I see how their family has been blessed by doing so and I'm sure we'll all be blessed if we follow their example.
1 comment:
I really like the comments and thoughts of your student out the lights on the barges. I think that we need to remember that the lights didn't glow until the finger of the Lord had touched them. It isn't enough even to go to the temple as a couple. Our marriages need to be sealed by the Holy Spirit of zPromise in order for us to reach our full potential.
Post a Comment