Book of Mormon 19 - “None Could Deliver Them but the Lord”

The scriptures in Lesson 19, Mosiah 18-24 would make such an exciting movie. There are plots, political intrigue, religious upheavals, assassinations, battles, peoples in bondage, great escapes, and so much more. It is amazing how much took place in just one short reading! Some highlights for me included the way Alma had to flee for his life and then converted hundreds of people and baptised these converts in the Waters of Mormon. Noah’s people were not unified and Gideon was about to kill Noah when the army of the Lamanites was seen approaching the city. Noah commanded his people to flee from the Lamanites. When the Lamanites closed in, he suggested that the men flee and leave the women and children to the Lamanites. Some did as he suggested but others stayed and were enslaved by the Lamanites. Those who agreed eventually burned Noah to death. Limhi succeeded his father Noah as king. The Lamanites were angered when they believed Limhi’s people had abducted the daughters of the Lamanites. These daughters had, in fact, been abducted by the priests of Noah, who were too ashamed to face the people of Limhi and lived in the wilderness away from their wives and children. Limhi and his people fought the Lamanites three times and were defeated. At the same time, a group of people under the leadership of Ammon, travelled from Zarahemla and found the people of Limhi. As these people turned to the Lord, they were able to escape from bondage when the Lamanite guards were in a drunken stupor. Lamanites, sent out to search for the people of Limhi, found Alma and his people at Helam. They had already found the priests of Noah and taken possession of the land of Amulon. The priests’ new wives, the daughters of the Lamanites, pleaded for their husbands to be spared. Alma and his people showed the Lamanites the way to Nephi but the Lamanites did not give them the promised rewards, their lives and their liberty. Amulon was made king of his people who were in the land of Helam. He gained the favour of the Lamanite King Laman and persecuted Alma and his people. Alma’s people were able to escape when the Lord caused the Lamanite guards to fall into a deep sleep. They fled into the wilderness and travelled to Zarahemla. What an incredibly epic story!

Waters of Mormon by Walter Rane

But, there is far more to these scriptures than an epic adventure. There is gospel truth and lessons to be learned. There were three lessons here for me: firstly, even one soul is worth a great missionary effort; secondly, the Lord’s people must be united in building up the kingdom; and, thirdly, miracles are possible with the Lord on your side and this only comes with obedience.

The importance of standing up for the truth, of being a missionary and sharing what we have with others, is so important. In a week, my daughter’s best friend leaves for the mission field, so the importance of missionary effort is constantly on my mind. Abinadi may not have recognised how successful he had been in Noah’s court, but Alma believed. Alma baptised hundreds of people. I recall two amazing accounts of missionaries who felt they had not succeeded because they only baptised a single convert. 

The very first missionary called after the restoration was Joseph Smith’s brother, Samuel Smith. A short animated account of his mission can be found at lds.org. Although Samuel returned from his mission discouraged and disappointed, future church leaders Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball came in contact with copies of the Book of Mormon left by Samuel and were later baptised. 

President Gordon B. Hinckley recalled a story told to him by the Southern States Missionary President Charles A. Callis. President Callis interviewed a missionary just prior to his release. The missionary stated, “I haven’t had any results from my work. I have wasted my time and my father’s money. It’s been a waste of time.” This missionary had baptised only one convert in his two-year mission. This was a 12-year-old boy in the back hollows of Tennessee. Brother Callis decided to find out what had happened to that single convert. The next time he was in the area, he found the boy now wore shoes and a shirt and was the clerk of a little branch Sunday School. Brother Callis continued to follow his progress. He became the Sunday School Superintendent and eventually the Branch President. He married and established his own successful farm. He then moved his family to Idaho and bought a larger farm where his family prospered. His children grew and went on missions. They returned home, had children of their own who also went on missions. Brother Callis stated, “I’ve just spent a week up in Idaho looking up every member of that family that I could find and talking to them about their missionary service. I discovered that, as the result of the baptism of that one little boy in the back hollows of Tennessee by a missionary who thought he had failed, more than 1,100 people have come into the Church.” (From the Teachings of President Gordon B. Hinckley, p. 360-361).

When I was a teenager I was an enthusiastic missionary. I loved telling people about the gospel. At a single Open House in Auckland 13^th Ward, I was responsible for 24 investigators! I used to send out letters and Books of Mormon. On one occasion I was prompted to write to a Swiss “penfriend” who never returned my letters. This was not something I would usually do! I wrote many letters and then sent my testimony in a Book of Mormon. Although I never received a letter at that stage, I did hear from this penfriend many years later, when she first attended the temple in Switzerland. That was the most exciting experience! Over the years, my missionary zeal has waned. Now I am embarrassingly anti-social, yet I still speak up about the church when discussion with my students and work colleagues turns to religion. I must work out how to renew the zeal I felt so strongly in my youth!

The second lesson I learned this week was about the importance of those who have been baptised to be united. In Mosiah 18:21, we read: “And he commanded them that there should be no contention one with another, but that they should look forward with one eye, having one faith and one baptism, having their hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another.” A ward is only as strong as the members. In my experience, a ward where the Saints are one, is a strong ward with love, caring, and great spirituality.

Limhi and His People Escape to Zarahemla by Steven Lloyd Neal

The third lesson from these scriptures that stood out for me was that when people are obedient, when they humble themselves before the Lord and ask His help, He is always there. He always leads and guides His people. In Mosiah 21 we learn more about the people of Limhi. They were persecuted by the Lamanites. Three times the Lamanites defeated them in battle. Lamanite persecutions increased. In verse 14 we read: “And they did humble themselves even in the depths of humility; and they did cry mightily to God; yea, even all the day long did they cry unto their God that he would deliver them out of their afflictions.” It was only when they started to be humble and turn to the Lord that their burdens were eased and they started to prosper. The people were kept in bondage until the arrival of Ammon, when Limhi and many of his people desired to be baptised. They were prepared to serve the Lord with all their hearts. It was only at this point that their escape from the Lamanites was made possible. If we are obedient, the Lord will listen. He hears the earnest prayers of our hearts. I know this. I have experienced this many times in my life. I want to so live my life, that I deserve His love, His compassion, so that I can turn to Him with the righteous desires of my heart.

Book of Mormon 18 - “God Himself … Shall Redeem His People”

I struggled a little with this lesson. I think it was the result of a combination of factors: firstly, the breadth of doctrine covered in this lesson; secondly, life circumstances including worry about children, exams, and end-of-semester responsibilities; and, thirdly, being very tired physically and emotionally.

After an intensely spiritual Sacrament meeting today, I feel ready to write. I sat through the Sacrament hymn in tears. I really wanted to sing but nothing would come out. The hymn #172, In Humility Our Saviour, has the most beautiful lyrics by Mabel Jones Gabbott. These include the following: “When thy heart was stilled and broken, on the cross at Calvary.” These words touched my spirit with such force. I saw the suffering of my elder brother, my Saviour, in Gethsemane, on the road to Calvary, and as He suffered on the cross.

(Left: Thy Will Be Done by Del Parson; right: It Is Finished by Liz Lemon Swindel)

Abinadi’s message to King Noah and his priests in Mosiah 14 and 15 deals with the very thing I sat contemplating during the passing of the Sacrament. In Mosiah 14, Abinadi quotes the words of Isaiah. These are so beautiful and poignant. In verse 3, he says: “He is despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from him, he was despised, and we esteemed him not.” Later, in verse 7, “He was oppressed and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter.”

In Chapter 15 Abinadi speaks further about the Atonement and how the Lord will make intercession for the transgressions of His people. Here Christ is referred to as Father. Brother Bill Beardall provides a wonderful summary of the concept of deity and the word Father. He states that there are four separate and distinct significations in doctrinal exposition relating to the use of the term Father. These are: God the Father, our literal parent, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and our eternal spirits; Jesus Christ, or Elohim, as the creator of this Earth, this universe, and, therefore, the Father of this world; Jesus Christ, the Father of those who strive in the gospel to gain an eternal reward; and, Jesus Christ, the Father by divine investiture of authority, representing His Father. In this chapter, Abinadi also discusses the doctrine of the resurrection. One scripture that struck me as I was listening to today’s speakers was Mosiah 15:28, which reads: “And now I say unto you that the time shall come that the salvation of the Lord shall be declared to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people.”

The speakers in Sacrament today focussed on missionary work. Two missionaries spoke, followed by two prospective missionaries, both Young Single Adults. One of these young men is the only active member in his family and spoke of the difficulties in sticking to the gospel and preparing for a mission with the temptations of the world all around. He said something that I felt was quite profound: “What we want is out there; what we need is right here.” One of the speakers quoted words from his favourite song (also mine) O Lord, my Redeemer by Jeff Goodrich. Once again, I felt the tears streaming down my face as I pictured the beautiful face of my Redeemer. The portraits below were on my mind:

(Left: Jesus Christ by Brent Borup; right: Jesus Christ Pencil by Liz Lemon Swindel)

I love my Saviour. I feel His love for me and this fills me with gratitude and humility. I once read a sweet blog that mirrored the way I feel about the Saviour. This 2015 blog called He Lives… Present Tense by Nikkita Ulloa is well worth reading.

“Oh Lord, my Redeemer,

Thou hast done so much for me!

Oh Lord, my Redeemer.

All my love I give to thee!”

(From O Lord, my Redeemer by Jeff Goodrich.)

Book of Mormon 17 - “A Seer … Becometh a Great Benefit to His Fellow Beings”

While studying the scriptures for Lesson 17, four passages made me stop, think, and pray. I wrote down the four themes I had found and I discovered that there were, in actuality, only two main ideas: firstly, the importance of prophets, seers, and revelators; and, secondly, avoiding bondage by being on the Lord’s side.

As a Latter-day Saint, I have access to modern revelation. This is a wonderful reality. I look forward to our bi-annual General Conferences, when we have the opportunity to hear President Monson and the General Authorities. In Mosiah 8:16-18, Ammon said that a seer is a revelator and a prophet. He said that a seer can reveal all things: past, present, and future. He said, “things shall be made known by them which otherwise could not be known.” At Conference we hear the Lord himself through His servants: “the will of the Lord…the mind of the Lord…the word of the Lord…the voice of the Lord…the power of God unto salvation” (D&C 68:3-4). When President Monson speaks, he speaks to me. I feel his message and I testify of the power of his words.

In 1994, President Boyd K. Packer gave a remarkable talk entitled, The Father and the Family. He stated, “When we speak plainly of divorce, abuse, gender identity, contraception, abortion, parental neglect, we are thought by some to be way out of touch or to be uncaring. Some ask if we know how many we hurt when we speak plainly. Do we know of marriages in trouble, of the many who remain single, of single-parent families, of couples unable to have children, of parents with wayward children, or of those confused about gender? Do we know? Do we care?...Those who ask have no idea how much we care…Because we do know and because we do care, we must teach the rules of happiness without dilution, apology, or avoidance.”

Elder Boyd K. Packer went on to talk about the crisis of the family. Our General Authorities have been warning us about the decline in family values and the disintegration of the family as a crucial unit for decades. Family Home Evening was instituted in the church over 100 years ago. I know this is one huge mistake I have made. I have tried, in a very haphazard manner, to have regular Family Home Evenings. My first three children were able to enjoy FHE more than my last three. I excused my lack of effort on the grounds the whole family could never be involved. My ex- was a non-member. My excuses were always shallow. I see my inactive children now, and I cannot help but wonder how different things might have been had I persevered in living this directive from the General Authorities.

This leads into the second main idea from this week’s scriptures. In Mosiah 7:29-32 we are presented with two options: either to transgress, stumble, be smitten and afflicted, or to “turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in him, and serve him with all diligence of mind” and be freed from bondage. My heart breaks when I see the struggles of many of our young people in the church. It is so hard to be a good member and to live in the world. Even active young adults play with fire in their personal and social lives. They transgress and fall into bondage. They develop habits that are destructive and lead to life-threatening addictions. They do all this while looking for happiness. If only they knew. They cannot find happiness while looking in all the wrong places. Happiness is found in obedience to the Lord’s commandments.

I have never understood drinking, getting drunk, and becoming addicted to alcohol. I find alcohol obnoxious. I would never date anyone who drank. My ex- turned his life around when he met me. He came from a heavy-drinking family, and he, himself, drank heavily before meeting me. He respected me enough not to ever come home smelling of alcohol. I hate smelling alcohol on the breath of anyone I love.

I wish I could convince young people of the things I know. In my 58 years on this earth I have never drank alcohol, never drank tea or coffee, and never smoked or taken drugs. I have experienced the promise found in D&C 89:18-20. For those who adhere to the commandments and abide by the Word of Wisdom, they “shall receive health in their navel and marrow in their bones… And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint.”

I was only 14 years old when I was sitting my NZ School Certificate exams. I had a Biology exam that was due to start at 9.00 a.m. At 8.15 a.m. I went to the bus-stop to catch my bus to school. I waited… and waited… and waited… getting more nervous as time went past. By 8.45 a.m. I was in a total panic. I stood at the bus stop and prayed. A driver passing by asked me if I knew about the bus strike. I received a strong conviction that I had to start running. I am not, nor have I ever been, a super-fit person. I am not, nor have I ever been, a runner! But, I ran. I ran for half an hour without stopping. I felt powerful and fast. I had the energy to keep going. I knew the Lord was by my side. I got into the exam room at 9.15 a.m. The first thing I heard was an announcement that the delay was over, the exam was now beginning. “You can start writing.” Apparently some exam papers had been misplaced and had been found. The exam was delayed just long enough for me to get there. Now, after a half-hour run, at full speed, I should have been exhausted! I wasn’t. I had prayed and I had received a Priesthood blessing from my father. I started the exam. My mind was clear and the answers flowed. At the end of three hours, I heard, “Put your pens down.” On hearing those words, a wave of tiredness overwhelmed me. I felt the exhaustion literally creep through my body. I was so exhausted, I felt nauseous and light-headed. But, the Lord had blessed me for my obedience to the Word of Wisdom. I had run and I had not been weary. I did well, with the Lord’s help.

I had a similar experience when I was a young mum with two small children. I was only 21 years old and I had a twenty-one month old toddler and a baby of six months. I was living in Johannesburg, South Africa, still under the rule of apartheid. There was a lot of racial tension and crime was a fact of life. I was in the car, with my babies, on the way to visit my parents. My car broke down at the side of the road. I was still closer to Alexandra Township (an African township) than I was to my parent’s home in Brixton. I prayed fervently to know what I should do. Again, I felt the prompting to gather up my babies and run. With two babies and several bags, I started to run. I felt strong and pumped with energy. I ran for miles. When I arrived at my parent’s home, they were astonished that I had been able to run even a short distance carrying my load! My dad took me back to my car and we towed it to safety. My life and the life of my babies had been saved through obedience to the Word of Wisdom.

But, young people cannot learn these lessons by proxy. And, unfortunately, the pressures to follow the crowd are unrelenting. 

In Mosiah 9:17-18 and Mosiah 10:19, we hear about Zeniff. Zeniff’s people fought against the Lamanites. As long as they prayed mightily, sought the Lord’s protection, and put their trust in Him, they were able to win their battles against the Lamanites. Zeniff and his people were fighting a physical force, but our young people today are fighting a much more subtle yet still deadly force. Satan and his followers are powerful adversaries. To win their battle, they must have the Lord on their side. This is so hard when their will to resist is weak.

Later we hear about Noah, the son of Zeniff, and how he led his people astray. His “riotous living” displeased the Lord and his people suffered. The comparison between Noah, described in Mosiah 11:1-15, and the prophet Abinadi, described in Mosiah 11:20-25, is striking. Noah was proud and pompous, while Abinadi was humble and a spiritual giant. Abinadi’s words to Noah and his people emphasise the importance of being on the Lord’s side. Abinadi stated that abominations lead to the Lord’s anger and people are delivered into bondage. They need to repent in sackcloth and ashes to gain the Lord’s forgiveness and to start to make amends. The Lord abides by law and justice. If we sin, we must pay the price. However, He has paid for our sins, if we make use of the Atonement and allow His sacrifice to purify our lives. The Atonement gives us hope. I have seen the Atonement work in the lives of those I love. I pray that my inactive children will one day feel the happiness that comes when the Lord is allowed back into their lives, when they can gain forgiveness, and feel the hope and joy of the Atonement.

Book of Mormon 16 – “Ye Shall Be Called the Children of Christ”

In the scriptures for Lesson 16, we continue to follow the discourse of King Benjamin. King Benjamin must have been a very powerful teacher and orator as he had a profound effect upon his people. After he had finished speaking, he looked around at the people and “behold they had fallen to the earth, for the fear of the Lord had come upon them” (Mosiah 4:1). I thought “the fear of the Lord” was a strange expression. However, in Volume 2 of the Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon by Joseph Fielding McConkie and Robert L. Millett, this expression is explained clearly. In many ancient cultures, falling to the earth was an indication of reverence and awe; and the Hebrew word Yirah or fear, could also be translated as respect or reverence. This made me think of a very special story that was given to me by my old youth Sunday School teacher, Sister Gloria Kelly, an angel Sister who touched my life in a dramatic way.

“I found myself one evening in the dreams of the night, in that sacred building, the Temple. After a season of prayer and rejoicing, I was informed that I should have the privilege of entering into one of those rooms, to meet a glorious personage, and as I entered the door, I saw, seated on a raised platform, the most glorious Being my eyes have ever beheld, or that I ever conceived existed in all the eternal worlds. As I approached to be introduced, he arose and stepped towards me with extended arms, and he smiled as he softly spoke my name. If I shall live to be a million years old, I shall never forget that smile. He took me into his arms and kissed me, pressed me to His bosom, and blessed me, until the marrow of my bones seemed to melt! When He had finished, I fell at His feet, and as I bathed them with my tears and kisses, I saw the prints of the nails in the feet of the Redeemer of the world. The feeling that I had in the presence of Him who hath all things in His hands, to have His love, His affection, and His blessings was such that if I ever can receive that of which I had but a foretaste, I would give all that I am, all that I ever hope to be, to feel what I then felt” (as cited in Bryant S. Hinckley, The Faith of Our Pioneer Fathers, p. 226-27.)

When Sister Kelly first asked me to read this to the class, I cried. I could imagine myself in this dream. I would have also fallen to the Earth, in fear and love of the Lord. One day, I want to be worthy to kneel at His feet.

In Mosiah 4:15-26, King Benjamin speaks again of love for your fellowman, of tending to the needs of the poor, and of not judging those that stand in need. In verse 19 it says, “For behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance which we have”. Living in this beautiful country (NZ) with freedom and natural beauty, having the Gospel in my life, having a wonderful family and love in abundance, having a home and shelter, a job that brings satisfaction, and being able to study and learn – these are all blessings for which I am so grateful. I convey my gratitude to the Lord every day for these special blessings. I share as much as I can and always make an effort to help others when I am called upon to give aid or assistance. This is something that I was taught from my earliest years.

Mosiah 5 contains chiasmus. Chiasmus is found in ancient Hebraic texts and many of the proverbs provide great examples. In 1830, when the Book of Mormon was published, no one in America even understood chiasmus. John W. Welsh (1985), in his text Chiasmus in the Book of Mormon, stated “the remarkable presence of complex chiasms in the Book of Mormon testifies to the ancient origin of the text”.

The chiasmus in Mosiah 5:10-12 is illustrated in the picture below. This is from BYU Studies Quarterly, and appeared in the Gospel Doctrine Prep blog of John Bytheway.

I thought it would be fun to try a chiasmus myself. I tried to apply the concepts from King Benjamin to this chiasmus.

Joy penetrates my being as I testify of the love of my Saviour.

   This knowledge fills me with humility and gratitude.

      The enabling power of the Atonement provides me with hope;

         a hope that must be fuelled by constant effort and obedience

            and service to my fellowman,

               giving my time and talents, and the gifts the Lord has given me;

               giving my time and talents wherever they may be required,

            providing service to my fellowman.

         I must live a Christ like life through constant effort and obedience,

      motivated by hope arising through the power of the Atonement

   that creates in me an overwhelming sense of humility and gratitude;

conclusively testifying to me of the love of my Saviour.

The following video, was a PowerPoint I once made for a lesson, to illustrate Gratitude. This is what I am grateful for:

Book of Mormon 15 - “Eternally Indebted to Your Heavenly Father”

This week’s lesson focussed on King Benjamin. What a remarkable leader! He served his people by working with his people. In Mosiah 2:14, we read that “I [King Benjamin], myself, have labored with mine own hands that I might serve you, and that ye should not be laden with taxes, and that there should nothing come upon you which was grievous to be born…” I can imagine living under his rule, and hearing his words, and receiving inspiration to be true to the teachings in the scriptures.

In Mosiah 2, King Benjamin uses the word “indebted” repeatedly. He reminds us that we are eternally indebted to the Lord. In ‘The Gospel Study Companion’, presented by S. Michael Wilcox, he makes an analogy of a large plate of delicious gifts (a Christmas plate) and the blessings we receive from the Lord. He tells us that the Lord gives us so many gifts: life, preservation, joy, peace (refer Mosiah 2:20) the air we breathe, agency, movement (refer Mosiah 2:21); and we can add the scriptures, living prophets, the beauties of creation, and so much more. What do we put on our plate that we give back to the Lord? In verses 20 to 23, there are three gifts we can give the Lord: all our thanks and praise, i.e. gratitude, service, by serving our fellowman, and keeping His commandments, i.e. obedience. As we give our plate to the Lord, He gives us another plate with even more gifts. Then we need to give back again: gratitude, service, and obedience, and the cycle goes on.

In Mosiah 2:24 we read, “And ye are still indebted unto him, and are, and will be, forever and ever.” The Lord blesses us in so many ways. I live in a peaceful country, a beautiful land that is clean and green, I have a remarkable family, a good job with amazing students, so much love, and good friends. I have the gospel, I have the scriptures, and I know who I am and where I want to be. I am grateful, and I do give thanks daily for my bounteous blessings.

My beautiful family

I find it easy to love other people because I have always been loved. Part of this love is expressed in service. One of the most famous scriptures from this week’s lesson is Mosiah 2:17: “And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.”

My job is one where I serve on a daily basis. I try to make myself available to my students whenever they need me. I love doing what I can for my family. I adore being able to give a gift that truly comes from the heart.

In the past, I served as a volunteer Lifeline counsellor, at a time in my life when I had major, painful issues in my own life. This service did more for me, than I ever did for those I served. I remember going to a shift feeling lonely and sad. I remember spending four hours on one phone call, persuading a caller not to pull the trigger on a rifle he was holding to his head. Encouraging him to talk about all the things he had to live for made me so aware of how fortunate I was, despite temporary problems.

My mum and I were visiting teaching companions for over a dozen years. We never missed a visit in that time. The opportunity to visit the homes of our sisters always made the month worthwhile. We grew to love the various sisters we visited and developed a stronger bond as mother and daughter.

The gifts of gratitude and service I find easier to offer the Lord. The third one is always a struggle. I try to be obedient but I always fall short. In ‘The Miracle of Forgiveness’ by President Spencer W. Kimball, he speaks about the sins of omission and not just of commission. It is easier to avoid the sins of commission. The sins of omission are the sins I need to work on. My goal in future plates I present to the Lord, is to add greater obedience to my gifts.

In Mosiah 3:19 we read about the natural man. The natural man is an enemy to God, unless he submits his will to the Lord’s as a child submits to his father. The process of becoming a child of Christ and putting off the natural man is beautifully explained in the little video called, ‘Becoming Children of Christ’.

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.

Book of Mormon 13 – “The Allegory of the Olive Trees”

Welsh and Ricks (1992) in their introduction, stated, “the allegory of the olive tree, written by Zenos and quoted by Jacob to his people in Jacob 5 in the Book of Mormon, strikes us anew as one of the most magnificent allegories in all the sacred literature of the Judeo-Christian tradition. Besides its exceptional length and exquisite detail, Zenos’s extended allegory communicates important meaning, deep emotion, rich wisdom, and divine feeling. No other allegorical text encompasses greater historical scope and typological vitality. It deserves an honoured place alongside the best biblical parables or symbolic literature” (p.1).

At first, I found the allegory confusing. I decided to do my own research in order to understand Jacob 5 more fully. I completed an outline of the scriptures and their contents to summarise my understanding (ideas from Bill Beardall and John Bytheway). The following is a summary table.

Bill Beardall gave the following explanation of the symbolism in the allegory. I found this very helpful.

·        Vineyard = the world

·        Tame olive tree = the house of Israel (v3)

·        Wild olive tree = the Gentiles (those who are not of the house of Israel by birth)

·        Master of the vineyard = the Lord

·        The servant = a prophet or prophets

·        Grafting natural branches into the wild trees = branches of Israel dispersed among the Gentiles

·        Grafting wild branches into the natural tree = adoption of Gentiles into Israel

·        Nephi defined grafting as coming "to the knowledge of the true Messiah" (1 Nephi 10:14)

·        Pruning, nourishing, and cultivating = the work of the Lord and his servants to save their people

·        Natural fruit = faithful Saints and their righteous works, worthy of eternal life (v61)

·        Wild fruit = unfaithful individuals and their unrighteous works

I found an old video on YouTube, a CES Book of Mormon film on Jacob 5, that shows Seminary youth caring for trees and teaches the chapter's symbolism. This also clarified a lot of the horticultural imagery that I did not fully understand. The video is linked below. 

‘The Allegory of the Olive Tree’ by Welsh and Ricks (1992), mentioned the detailed horticultural practices and procedures in Jacob 5 would have not have been known by an untrained person, such as the Prophet Joseph Smith, and that even specialists, when the Book of Mormon was translated, would not have fully appreciated the unique aspects of olive culture (p. 522). This is yet another aspect of the Book of Mormon that testifies of its authenticity.

In the Book of Mormon: Gospel Study Companion (2 CD-set) by Michael Wilcox, he talks about the allegory as an allegory and as a parable. The allegory increases our understanding of the history of the House of Israel. Reading Jacob 5 as a parable shows us more about the nature of the Saviour. He suggests that three words, repeated frequently in Jacob 5, increase our knowledge and understanding of the Saviour, the Master of the vineyard. These three words are: nourish – the Master provides constant nourishment for the trees in his vineyard; grieve – He grieves when they begin to die; and, labour – He labours to save them. I love this way of looking at Jacob 5. I love my Saviour. This understanding adds to the love I have for my Saviour and my desire to follow His direction. In v.41 the Master weeps and asks “what could I have done more?” This is such a sweet and touching scripture, and reveals the Lord’s love for me and for you.

Jacob 7 tells us about the first anti-Christ in the Book of Mormon, Sherem. Jacob is able to resist the influence of Sherem because of his unshaken faith. Jacob has already told us about the key to bringing forth good fruit, in Jacob 6:7, “after ye have been nourished by the good word of God all the day long”. In Jacob 4:6, Jacob gave us the process for developing the same unshaken faith that he had: we need to search the prophets to be nourished by the good word of God, and study is the catalyst to revelation, and personal revelation creates unshakeable faith. I find it so comforting to have this recipe for developing unshakeable faith.