I feel like I have read the opening chapters of the Book of Mormon a million times in my life. I have NOT read the whole Book of Mormon a million times. I probably haven't read it five times. Most of those times were aloud with Dave.
Lately, I've been taking a free online course with BYU on the Book of Mormon. It's been wonderful. I do the "computer" part of it before novel writing during naptime every day, and the reading part of it whenever I can catch a minute (usually while nursing-is that TMI?) and I realized in the course of doing this today something I never noticed before.
When the Lord asks Nephi to kill Laban, Nephi doesn't want to--this is an understandable sentiment. Then there is that desperately true statement: "It is better that one man should perish than an entire nation dwindle and perish in unbelief." (1 Nephi, 4:13).
Nephi then realizes 3 things:
1. The Lord promised to prosper his posterity insomuch as they kept the commandments.
2. They can't keep the commandments if they don't know the commandments.
3. The commandments are on the plates that Laban is refusing to give him. (3 Nephi:14-17)
The "nation" could very well be referring to Nephi's posterity. Now. Anecdote time.
I lost an uncle when I was 17. He didn't die--he left. We lost him to pornography and adultery. Although the pain I felt pales in comparison to whatever his wife and kids went through at the time, the loss was still very, very difficult, as he was someone I had really loved and admired growing up. In many ways, it would have been easier if he had died instead of abandoned the family.
I don't think Nephi had any children at this time (he wasn't married)--but he knew and loved his future posterity. Heavenly Father had made covenants with him concerning his posterity. Nephi cared about his children-to-be. He cared about their spiritual well-being. The spiritual well-being of the whole nation of posterity that would come from him was HIS responsibility in that moment. And yes, that is worth the life of any one man. That was more than worth the mortal life of Laban, in my opinion.
I would kill for my children. I certainly hope I never have to, but if it comes down to it, I would. And their spiritual lives mean so much more than their mortal lives. No, that doesn't mean I'm going to kill the stupid kid who tries to get my son to look at a dirty magazine. But it does mean that in reading this passage of scripture, I have felt something of the gravity of making sure that my children understand those sacred commandments, and have the records for which men have died.
Each of us is responsible for the nation of posterity that may come from us. What we do matters.
Like Nephi, what we do before we're even married matters. It will have bearing on our children, for good or evil. I'm not just talking about chastity. I'm talking about what we know or don't know, what power and strength our testimonies give us, or fail to give us. We can't give what we don't have. I sure hope I haven't shorted my children too terribly in this respect.
Yes, I'm having an overwhelmed mommy moment. I hope I remember to teach them everything that matters. I love them so very much.
On a lighter note, I'm learning to teach Joy School. But I'll let Jane tell you about that one of these days.
3 comments:
We just started reading the Book of Mormon again last night. Got through the testimonies and the introduction. I really hope we can get through it this time. I think not moving for twelve solid months will definitely help.
We went to a seminar on Book of Mormon geography a few months ago. This geneticist claims every event in the promised land took place in the Kirkland, Nauvoo, Independence areas with archeological proof that there was an advanced civilization there; i.e. pyramids larger than those at Giza mathematically aligned with true north and the stars, iron smelters, one city was shaped in the birds-eye view of a menorah.
It made me really excited to read the book again. In the testimony of Joseph Smith Moroni explicitly states that the events of the Book of Mormon took place 'on this continent' not South America.
It was a wonderful discover and the whole book is more alive to me from the river Sidon (Mississippi and Missouri Rivers) and the beasts they followed and ate (obviously buffalo).
loved your mommy moment!
Kari: That's all very fascinating...very much so.
Elaine: Thanks!
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