Why did Laman, Lemuel and Sariah murmur and give into fear? What was the difference between Laman, Lemuel and Sariah's doubting? Why did Nephi support his father? What determines whether we are filled with fear and become murmurers or filled with faith and become supporters of the Lord’s work and His prophets?
“I have learned not to put question marks but to use exclamation points when calls are issued through inspired channels of priesthood government.” ~ Elder Russell M. Nelson
In Merdian Magazine Tuesday, January 03 2012. The article The Unspoken Problem of Laman and Lemuel By Maurine Proctor is a great read regarding yesterdays reading.
ReplyDeleteHere is a little preview.... "I once asked my institute class where that bad attitude came from, and nobody could really point to the source—but it’s in there. We learn plainly in 1 Nephi 2:12 what their problem is—and it is this: “they knew not the dealings of that God who had created them.” Their blindness and howling stemmed from that single source.
Yes, these men had been taught by their parents. They could undoubtedly recite prayers, attend rituals, go through the motions. Growing up, they were probably what we would call today “active” in the Church—but still they didn’t know God. When things got rough, that ignorance cost them dearly—and instead of refining them and bringing them closer to God as a wilderness journey is designed to do, their souls were only corroded like iron left to exposure in the desert air.
It is clear that someone can go through all the motions of discipleship and still not know “the dealings of that God who had created them.” Motions are never enough. Lip service falls cold. The heart has to long for God, our souls seeking Him with all energy—or we can be stuck forever in the shallows."
To read the whole article: http://ldsmag.com/church/article/9149?ac=1
For me it's all about 1 Nephi 3: 7 - Nephi shows his faith, which is the antidote to fear in all cases.
ReplyDeleteI had some other impressions too about the difference between Sariah's doubts and fears, and those of Lemon and Lime's... and it boils down to a manifestation of pride. Sariah does not demonstrate enmity toward Lehi and God as do L&L. I believe more of us are like L&L than we would be comfortable admitting. As the excerpt from your article suggests, they were probably quite orthodox in their system of religious practices. Just as the children of Israel in Moses' day did not want to give up - or add to - the practices they were acquainted with, perhaps L&L had thought they understood what God expected of them - and the new revelations and insights their father received seemed to suggest ideas to challenge their set-in-cement ideas about who God is and what he requires of us. It made them uncomfortable. Many prideful people don't like to feel they don't know enough yet. They don't like their intellect challenged. They don't like being subservient to authority figures - even ultimately God. Sariah's fears, on the other hand, were maternal and temporary.
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