Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Or in Other Words...

As a Freshman at BYU, in fact it was my first term there, I took a Book of Mormon class from a young graduate student named Dan Belnap. In a lot of ways, that class changed me and my direction in life. Brother Belnap took an ancient understanding approach to the Book of Mormon, and one of the things he taught us had to do with 1 Nephi 8. I read this chapter of "the most correct of any book on earth" this morning, and thought again of what he taught us.

Among the things Brother Belnap taught was the idea that the rod of iron that Lehi saw in his dream was not a railing, like a stair railing, but a scepter or a rod of power (i.e. the rod of a king or Moses' rod). He helped us to understand that to someone in the ancient world, a rod represented kingship, power, and ruler-ship. In other words, the Word of God leads to these things.

Though the nuances of a rod work well in this regard, 1 Nephi 8:19-20 are abundantly clear on what kind of rod this is: "it extended along the bank of the river" and "a strait and narrow path . . . came along by the rod of iron." So it is, that even though Lehi and Nephi and other ancients may have caught more from this symbolism than a modern reader may (and thanks be to Brother Belnap for pointing this out), nevertheless, the rod is indeed a kind of a railing.

Now, a few other observations about this wonderful chapter, which will mostly have to do with the great and spacious building.

The first thought that struck me today while reading about the building is that Lehi seems to be totally unaware of its existence until he sees those who "after they had partaken of the fruit of the tree they did cast their eyes about as if they were ashamed" (v 25). They are aware of this building, but Lehi is not. His focus heretofore has been on the joy the fruit filled him with and his anxiety to share this with his family.

Note, after tasting the fruit, he did not see the building, he looked for his family. There is something in that. So why is it that those who later partook and were ashamed did see the building? Maybe they were aware of it while they were on the path, or maybe it was lurking high above the tree, gazing down at those partaking. It appears to be a rather conspicuous place, full of those who mock the righteous. But again, I find it very significant that Lehi does not see it until others do. He did not care for the pride of the world, and certainly did not care what the world thought of him (as is clear from his sudden preaching in Jerusalem in 1 Nephi 1:18-19).

Another thing that struck me about the building was this: "And after they had tasted of the fruit they were ashamed, because of those that were scoffing at them; and they fell away into forbidden paths and were lost" (v 28) and also "And it came to pass that many were drowned in the depths of the fountain; and many were lost from his view, wandering in strange roads" (v 32).

This is really significant. V 28 makes it clear that those who have tasted the fruit and then are ashamed because of those in the building, do not join the crowds in the building, but they wander off and are lost. And in v 32 it seems that the majority of those who do not make it to the tree also do not join the crowds who seem to really be enjoying themselves reveling in the pleasures of the world, but they drown or are lost. There are those who enter into the building, but none of them are those who have tasted the fruit.

What might this suggest to us? Once you have tasted the fruit, the joy, of the love of God, you cannot join the ignorant crowds of the world, because you already know the contrasting joy of obedience. Therefore, you will find no pleasure in the things of the world, but you will be miserable, and you will become lost.

I think that the defining characteristic of the crowds in the building is ignorance. They do not know better, though they may see that these people are having marvelous experiences tasting this fruit, they have no idea what it is like, otherwise they would not be mocking.

And for my final thought concerning 1 Nephi 8: Lehi does see those who taste the fruit and remain. And there is a defining characteristic in these individuals as well. It comes in two simple words, a verb and an adverb, that describe what happens to these individuals as they approach the tree. Here is the verse:

But, to be short in writing, behold, he saw other multitudes pressing forward; and they came and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press their way forward, continually holding fast to the rod of iron, until they came forth and fell down and partook of the fruit of the tree (v 30).

Those two profound words are so simple, and yet speak so much. As those who are truly penitent and humble arrive at the Tree of Life, they recognize the love of God for what it really is: The Son of God. And they do what all true followers of Christ do when the moment of communion arrives: they fall down...

2 comments:

Daniel said...

Good point about Lehi. He also didn't notice the water was filthy because his mind was swallowed up in goodness. (We only get the dirty water detail through Nephi.) To the pure all things are pure...

I've often thought about the G&S Building. It strikes me that there probably isn't anyway to enter a building that has no foundation. Nor can a building without a foundation really stand.

Generally I equate the GSB with what I call "beer commercial reality," which is entire separate from true reality.

But just like the GSB, you look up at a beer commercial and it seems so hip, so funny, so cool, so enticing. But meet anyone with an alcohol addiction or even someone who would claim to be an avid beer drinker. I will wager good money that they are not a slim, good looking, twenty-something with a cool car, abnormally good looking girlfriend, and ultra chic New York loft apartment. You can try to wander off into that life, but I doubt you will ever find it. I doubt it's even possible.

Holdinator said...

Amen.