ADDED UPON 3

For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have. (Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 28:30)

The Lord had decreed that it is not a lack of offering which limits His children from receiving His counsel and direction during mortality, but a lack of seeking.

In the beginning chapters of 1 Nephi we have witnessed Lehi’s receptiveness to the Lord’s commands and his diligence in fulfilling the Lord’s directions. After receiving the Lord’s command to leave Jerusalem, he took his family to the desert and dwelt in a tent. After receiving the Lord’s command to retrieve the Plates of Brass he sent his sons on their perilous mission. After being told the importance of his children having spouses Lehi had them return to bring Ishmael’s family into the desert.

Because of his faithfulness the Lord continued to fulfill the promise He made to reveal his precepts unto his children line upon line. As they hearken, lend an ear, learn wisdom, Lehi continues to be guided in his daily walk and blessed with knowledge of the mysteries of the Lord.

The formula seems so simple, but as we often find, many fail because of the easiness of the way.

There are times when we will receive direction without having asked

The majority of lines we receive from the Lord will come as a result of our asking

We must hearken to the directions of the Lord

Hearkening always requires lending a listening ear, but can also require an obedient action

Obedience could require the teaching of what we have learned, but could also require some physical action on our part.

The events portrayed in the life of Lehi in the introductory chapters of the Book of Mormon illustrate clearly this simple pattern working in his life.

BECAUSE Lehi has the vision of the destruction of Jerusalem revealed to him. He returns to his family and prepares them to abandon their properties and flee unto the desert.

BECAUSE of his obedience to those things revealed in his vision, Lehi is directed to have his sons return to Jerusalem to secure the Plates of Brass.

BECAUSE of his obedience in retrieving the Plates of Brass, Lehi is directed to have his sons return to Jerusalem to convince the family of Ishmael to also flee into the desert.

BECAUSE of his obedience in searching the Plates of Brass, Lehi is given the Tree of Life dream.

As part of the Tree of Life experience Lehi and Nephi have many marvelous lines and precepts revealed to them.

They are shown the destruction of the city of Jerusalem and the captivity of its inhabitants taken into Babylon. We find an account of these happenings in the writings of Ezekiel.

They are shown the Savior’s mortal mission which would take place 600 years after Lehi’s departure from Jerusalem. We find an account of these happenings in the Gospels of the New Testament and in 3 Nephi of the Book of Mormon.

They are given a prophetic outline of his descendants. The Book of Mormon contains this history up until the year 421. We must rely on the discoveries of archeologist and historians for the rest of the history which Lehi received by revelation.

They are shown the coming of the Gentiles (Columbus) to the Americas and the subsequent interactions with their descendants. We can read about the fulfillment of these in honest histories and daily newspapers.

They were shown the destruction of nations which would precede the second coming of the Lord. We can read about this on the internet or watch it unfold on the nightly news.

Although the formula is both universal and unlimited for the edification of His children during their mortal probationary period, we do receive some precautions along with the admonitions when we attempt to enjoy Lehi-like experiences in our lives.

There is the thing about patience

Behold, ye are little children and ye cannot bear all things now; ye must grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth. (Doctrine and Covenants 50:40)

There is the thing about righteousness

And again, verily I say unto you, and I say it that you may know the truth, that you may chase darkness from among you; He that is ordained of God and sent forth, the same is appointed to be the greatest, notwithstanding he is the least and the servant of all.

Wherefore, he is possessor of all things; for all things are subject unto him, both in heaven and on the earth, the life and the light, the Spirit and the power, sent forth by the will of the Father through Jesus Christ, his Son. But no man is possessor of all things except he be purified and cleansed from all sin. (Doctrine and Covenants 50: 25-28)

And he that repents not, from him shall be taken even the light which he has received; for my Spirit shall not always strive with man, saith the Lord of Hosts. (Doctrine and Covenants 1:33)

There is the thing about the Lord’s timetable

If thou shalt ask, thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the mysteries and peaceable things—that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal.

Thou shalt ask, and it shall be revealed unto you in mine own due time where the New Jerusalem shall be built. (Doctrine and Covenants 42: 61, 62)

There is that other thing

Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me. But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right. (Doctrine and Covenants 9: 7, 8)

In previous Thoughts I have pondered upon why we seem to be given such small glimpses of the Omniscient Knowledge of our Heavenly Father and as yet I have failed to find a better response than, are you yet as Lehi?

Therefore, although I have faith in the formula which worked so well in the lives of Lehi and Nephi, I also know that I yet lack the level of faith which activated the formula so powerfully in their lives.

(To be continued)


THOUGHTS FOR A SABBATH DAY – WILLIAM L. RILEY

EDITED BY – KATHLEEN W. RILEY