LEHI – AN EXAMPLE OF FATHERHOOD

As I entered the date this Thought would be published, it came to my attention that it would fall on the Sunday marked as Father’s Day on the calendar. I have been prone in the past to make some off- hand remark about how little is done to remind us that there is anything that would cause us to make this day any more special than any other day.

This woe feeling was quickly replaced with a strong realization that Fatherhood is a responsibility and not an activity which makes anyone deserving of being pampered or honored. The thought also came forcibly upon me that Fatherhood along with Motherhood are a sacred privilege and, as far as I know, the only Exalted Eternal callings which Heaven Father allows His children to be tested in while they dwell in mortal bodies.

Therefore, if fathers were to engage in any special activity on this Sunday, it should probably be in expressing gratefulness for the opportunity and privilege they have been given. A thought that just entered my mind is that much like having a special Thanksgiving Day expressing gratefulness for the opportunity and privilege of participating in the Exalted Eternal Office of Fatherhood while still being a mere mortal, should be something we constantly and continuously have in our hearts, minds and souls.

After spending the first 5 ½ months of this year reading, pondering and writing about Nephi’s account of his father Lehi’s Fatherhood activities and in anticipation of a few more months observing his history from the far reaches of millennia, I feel it to be an appropriate use of time on this Father’s Day to rehearse Lehi’s example as he struggled with attempting to perform Eternal Exalted Works while enveloped in a mortal body. While likewise reminding ourselves of the many Fatherhood mantles we should be thankful for.

Although it is the first of his examples to be mentioned, it should always remain at the very top of the privileges of our apprenticeship towards having bestowed upon us the Exalted Eternal Office of Fatherhood, the very essence of Exalted Beings, that being Creators of Life. Along with Sariah who joined with Lehi in becoming a complete being they gifted mortality to sons and daughters.

Sadly, all too many men, very shortly after begetting a child begin to fail in their apprenticeship towards the Exalted Eternal Office of Fatherhood, and quickly turn from the responsibilities which must be met and the growth which can come by immersing themselves into the joys and sorrows which attend our faltering probationary steps.

Although I will be concentrating on Lehi in this thought, we must always remember Sariah, she who made him whole, walked every step with him.

And he was blessed!!

The Scriptural and Rabbinical writings forcefully teach that the cloak of Fatherhood, besides giving life to children, also brings with it the responsibility to insure their offspring are provided for, the children are taught that they needed to increase the prosperity of the family and that when one’s life comes to an end go to their rest having the assurance that the earth is a better place than when they were born. We don’t have a lot of details of the early period of Lehi and Sariah’s union, but since they had built up quite a surplus that Laban liberated from their sons,
And he was blessed!!
We know that Lehi is progressing well through the trials of his apprenticeship when he is privileged to receive revelatory direction from a heavenly messenger about how to keep his family from being destroyed.

And he was blessed!!

His devotion to faithfully follow inspired directions is profoundly demonstrated when he willing gives up all his worldly possession which he had spent his lifetime accumulating and go into the wilderness to dwell in a tent.

And he was blessed!!

He never mourned for the loss of his worldly goods, but suffered gravely when his children had to suffer the consequences of their poor decisions.

And he was blessed!!

Not only did Lehi lead his family out of Jerusalem which would shortly fall leaving many of its inhabitants destroyed and others carried away into slavery, but he received an instrument which directed him to guide his family safely across the deserts and desolations which they had to traverse during their mortal testing. We may not have a Liahona, but we all can be thankful for prayer and the whisperings of the Holy Spirit.

And he was blessed!!

He faithfully taught his children that there are consequences to their decisions and encouraged them to strive to hold to the truths which would lead them to feel of the love of Christ which would give them the strength to complete their apprenticeship in preparation to becoming Eternal Exalted Fathers and Mothers.

And he was blessed!!

I have always admired a trait in Lehi which is seldom acknowledged, which is how he recognized when it was time to pass the torch of leadership to the next generation. Although, because the agency of his offspring remained inviolate and he could not control what that passing would bring to pass, he never the less, let go of the scepter that others might have opportunity for growth toward becoming Eternal Exalted Fathers and Mothers.

And he was blessed!!

I will yet spend abundant time pondering and writing Thoughts about the blessings Lehi bestows upon his children when he is about to go the way of all the earth, but for now I just want to point it out as an example of enduring to the end in our apprenticeship toward becoming Eternal Exalted Fathers and Mothers.

And we will be blessed!!

It is little wonder that even though generations have passed, since his day of apprenticeship in his probationary experience of working towards becoming an Exalted Eternal Father there are millions who refer to Lehi not only as Father of Nations, but Prophet and Revelator!!

And we will be blessed!!

Just a final note from my pondering as I write this Thought. I would hope that I would not treat this day when I am writing nor the day when I review this script before publishing it as the only moments I let my heart, mind and soul be filled with thankfulness for the wonderful part of Heavenly Fathers plan which allows us all the opportunity to participate to one degree or another in putting on the characteristics, attributes and perfections of Eternal Exalted Fathers and Mothers during this mortal part of our probationary apprenticeship. My hope also contains the prayer that this might be the quest of each of us every moment of every day.

And we will be blessed!!



THOUGHTS FOR A SABBATH DAY – WILLIAM L. RILEY

EDITED BY – KATHLEEN W. RILEY