Book of Mormon 14 - “For a Wise Purpose”

The books of Enos, Jarom, Omni, and the Words of Mormon, although brief, cover a huge time period, approximately 500 B.C. to 145 B.C. Several passages of scripture here touched my heart as I was studying. The first thing I thought about was the importance of keeping a journal, of keeping records. Enos, the son of Jarom, was the first to record his thoughts and experiences; then Omni, Chemish, Amaron, Abinadom, and Amaleki, and, finally, Mormon.

I have always loved the story of the prayer of Enos. This must be one of the greatest prayers ever recorded in scripture. He prayed for his own soul, then for his brethren, the Nephites, then for his enemies, the Lamanites, and lastly, that the scriptures would be preserved for future generations. Enos did not just pray; he poured out his heart in prayer. I thought about my own prayers, and realised how often I fail to pour out my heart and soul to the Lord. But, I know He listens to me. 

I had the opportunity this week to know, without a doubt, that the Lord listens if you seek him earnestly.

My experience was certainly not an Enos moment, but, for me, it was special. Last week my children were on holiday from university, but back again into their studies this week. My youngest studied so hard over his week break. Every day, completely through his own dedication and determination, he studied hard with just a few, short breaks. He is earnestly attempting to pass his Bio-Med course with no less than an A for every paper, to ensure he gains entry into the Medical programme. So he works, and he works hard, consistently.

On Tuesday evening he had an important exam that counts 34% of his final mark for one of the four courses that determine entry to Medical School. I dropped him at the train station at 4.30 p.m. for a 6.30 p.m. exam start. I had a feeling of uneasiness and doubled back to the station. He was trying to contact me. He had attempted to top up his HOP card (public transport card), but the money had not come through and he had been unable to get his train. He had also left his EFTPOS card at home. I told him to get in and I would drive him through to the central city. This really was a crazy decision because rush-hour traffic is at its worst at this time of the day. But drive we did!

We did not take the motorway as it is usually at a standstill by 5.00 p.m. I drove along Great South Road. By the time we got to Mt Wellington, traffic was at a snail’s pace. I started to panic a little but remained bright and chirpy for my son’s benefit. I was praying hard that we would make it.

We hit horrendous traffic from Greenlane through to Newmarket. Khyber Pass, the road I would normally take, was not moving at all. I had a sudden thought, which I believe was an inspiration. I took a side-road and decided to cut though the Domain Grounds at Auckland Museum. This probably saved us from being late!

I got to the campus just after 6.00 p.m. and headed for the OGGB building, where my son expected the exam to be held. As I made the last turn into Symonds Street, the time was 6.15 p.m. My son received a txt from a friend telling him the exam venue had changed. It had moved to the HB. What was the problem? He didn’t know where the HB was! He suddenly said, “Just drop me here”, and I felt it was right, so I pulled over into the bus lane and dropped him, 6.17 p.m. I then started heading through the abysmal traffic home, along the waterfront. I was scared, worried, panicking, so I started to pray. I prayed vocally and poured out my heart to the Lord. I prayed with everything I had. I have never been so earnest or wanted anything so badly in my life. My prayer, to start with, was please help my son find the venue. After all his work and his dedication, help him to get there and to get there on time. I continued to pray, all the way. Once 6.30 p.m. had passed, I prayed that he would not be in a panic, that he would settle down and have a clear mind, that he would be confident, and that the unfortunate trip to the exam would not prevent him from performing well. I kept praying, keep driving, and kept crying, all the way back home. I asked the Lord to help me to be comforted if all was well. I felt a warm, peaceful feeling, and knew it would be okay.

When I got home, I spoke to my youngest daughter. She informed me that where I had dropped my son was directly outside the HB building! When I picked up my son from his exam, he told me the rest. He had found the building immediately, but had no idea what room to go to. He saw a big group of very intelligent-looking Asian students, and just had the feeling they would be doing the same exam, so he followed them. Sure enough, he ended up in the right room! He was there on time, but was shaking so hard, he could hardly hold the pen to fill in his answers. Then, as the exam started in earnest, he felt much calmer and completed all exam questions without difficulty. He is now waiting on his result.

My son and I

The Lord listens to me. Isn’t that a remarkable thing? I do not think of myself as special, but the Lord believes I am special. He listens and He answers! So yes, for me, the prayer of Enos is something that is truly significant.

Jacob had taught Enos well. He had shared his testimony with his son and rejoiced in the gospel. I was blessed with good parents who did likewise for me. I learned to pray, I learned to believe and have faith, and I learned the importance of prayer. President Gordon B. Hinckley stated, “ Treat your children as sons and daughters of God. Be kind. Love them. Respect them. Counsel with them. Teach them. Pray for them. Guide them, and God will bless both them and you.” I acknowledge the way my parents raised me.

There was another scripture that spoke to my heart. In Jarom 1:11-12 we learn that the prophets, priests, and teachers taught the Law of Moses to the people, “persuading them to look forward unto the Messiah, and believe in him to come as though he already was.” This is a remarkable way to learn about the Saviour. Imagine if we lived our lives according to this belief; imagine if we tried to live as if the Saviour had already come again, as though He was with us. There is so much that we would ensure we do, and so many things we would avoid doing!

I spent a lot of time this week thinking about my own record-keeping. I am blessed in having so much of my family history completed. My mother has been a very keen, very skilled genealogist and family history specialist, for most of my life. At odd times in my life, I have written down special experiences, with the intention of keeping a regular journal. Some of these experiences I enjoyed reading through again this week. But, I also have records in other formats. I have kept all the special talks I have given in my life, special letters that I have received, and special stories I have found. I read through many of these talks, letters, and stories, during the past week. I would like to share one of these talks with you. My mum helped me write this talk when I was a student at CCNZ (the Church College of New Zealand). It shows a lot about her faith and teachings, as well as my own faith. It also speaks about one of the most important things in my life, the love of the Saviour and the two great commandments. This talk follows.

There is only one divine name given under Heaven whereby all mankind may be saved; the divine name of our Saviour. Godliness, nobility, supremacy of character exemplified every hour of His earthly existence. With ease he defeated a lawyer in argument, repeatedly healed the sick where medicine failed, comforted the broken-hearted, brought hope to mankind, inspired the most magnificent music ever written, caused many thousands of libraries to be filled with books, inspired missionaries to travel all over the world often in frightening and dangerous circumstances, and showed gentleness and understanding to the smallest child. Our Lord’s every action was inspired by such an all-encompassing, transcending love that we are not able to comprehend it fully.

Yet this mortal existence was granted to us so that we could endeavour to follow in His footsteps. And how do we follow the peerless Man of Galilee? Could we ever attain even part of a spirituality exceeding that of all others? Our Lord Himself gave us the key when He stated the two most important commandments. By striving to love God and our fellow human beings we are treading in the right path. But this can only follow after the divine fire of Christlike love has encircled us and touched us at our spiritual centre.

We have to recognise that the quality of Christ’s love, the love we need to develop, demands much of us. Although harmonic and beautiful, it requires much self-discipline. There will be periods when we struggle against ourselves. We will endure the tortures of involvement, because we greatly increase our capacity for pain when we identify with others. There will be a need to sacrifice time and even ourselves to benefit others. We might ask, “Will it be worth such effort?”

In D&C 132, verse 48, we read that he who truly loves, “shall be visited with blessings, and not cursings, and with My power, saith the Lord, and shall be without condemnation on earth and in heaven…” Isn’t this a wonderful promise that would make any cost worthwhile?

There is a true story which I believe illustrates the depth of love Christ expects from us. It is about Edith Taylor who was married to her husband, Karl, for 23 years. Karl worked in government warehouses in the States. In February 1950, he was sent to a new warehouse in Okinawa. Lonely months dragged by and Karl’s letters became fewer and fewer. After a year had passed, Edith received a devastating letter. Karl had written to Mexico for a mail order divorce. He had then married Aiko, a Japanese servant assigned to his quarters. Aiko was only 19, while Edith was 48. Edith felt heartbreak and loneliness but she had loved Karl for so long she couldn’t change her feelings. Maybe she would see him again someday.

She wrote a gently, kind letter and asked Karl to keep her in touch with his life. He did this and Edith learnt that in 1951, he and Aiko had a baby daughter they named Maria. In 1953, their second daughter, Helen, was born. Edith sent gifts to the little girls. The correspondence between Edith and Karl continued.

Then came a dreadful letter filled with a man’s fear. Karl was dying of lung cancer. He was concerned over the future of his daughters Maria and Helen, whom he had planned to send to school in Alerica. Hospital bills had eaten up all his savings and he didn’t know what would become of the girls.

Edith wrote that if Aiko was willing, she would take Maria and Helen into her own home. After Karl’s death, Aiko kept the girls for many months, but she could only offer them a life of poverty, servitude, and despair. In November 1956, Aiko sent the girls to her “dear Aunt Edith”. Edith loved the two wholeheartedly. For the first time in six years, she was hurrying home from work. Even preparing meals was fun again.

But Edith read the sadness and loneliness in Aiko’s broken English letters. Somehow she must bring Aiko to America as well. Aiko was still a Japanese citizen and the immigration quota had a long, long waiting list. So Edith wrote to a newspaper columnist. Petitions were started and in August 1957, Aiko Taylor was allowed to enter the country. At the airport, Edith called out Aiko’s name and the frail, small woman rushed into Edith’s arms. The four became a happy, close-knit family, with Edith being the proud “other mother” to Maria and Helen. Edith wrote this, “Though God has taken one life I loved dearly, He has given me three others to love. I am so thankful.”

A way to nurture this Christlike love is suggested in a poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox:

“Lean on thyself, until thy strength is tried;

Then ask God’s help; it will not be denied.

Use then own sight to see the way to go;

When darkness falls, ask God the path to show.

Think for thyself and reason out thy plan;

God has his work, and thou hast thine, oh man.

Exert thy will and use it for control;

God gave thee jurisdiction of thy soul.

All these immortal powers bring to play;

Think, act, strive, reason, then look up and pray.”

It is not false to estimate that most of the world’s ills and miseries would vanish if everyone was capable of some degree of Christlike love. In the words of Alfred A. Peterson:

“Friendship, awareness, happiness, all are brilliant beads strung on the golden chord of love.

Love is the dove of peace, the spirit of brotherhood: it is tenderness and compassion, forgiveness and tolerance.

Love is the perfect antidote that floods the mind, to wash away hatred, jealousy, resentment, anxiety, and fear.”

Conversely, without Christ to follow, all would be chaos; life would be meaningless. As James L. Gordon aptly expresses it:

“A cathedral without windows, a face without eyes, a field without flowers, an alphabet without vowels, a continent without rivers, a night without stars, a sky without a sun – these would not be so sad as a world without scriptures or a soul without Christ.”

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.