The Death of Ishmael

The trials given to Lehi's people continued.  In 1 Nephi 16:34 we read of Ishmael's death.  We don't know the cause of his death, but the mourning and accusations of his daughters seems to indicate that a lack of food contributed to it.  Or maybe they were looking to lay blame anywhere they could.

I know from personal experience that death is always difficult to deal with, but unexpected death can be especially heart-breaking.  Here are the words of Ishmael's daughters: "and after all these sufferings we must perish in the wilderness with hunger."

So they were grieving, they were hungry, and they were tired, and all these things contributed to their hearts being hardened, so much so that when Laman suggested that they murder Lehi and Nephi, their hearts were stirred up to anger.  Actually, I see upon reading more deeply that the daughters were grieving, but it was the sons of Ishmael who Laman appealed to for his mob action.


Trials have a way of bringing out the best or worst in people.  We can usually go along all right when things are going smoothly, but when things get hard, we usually react in one of two ways.  Some people increase their devotion to God, humble themselves, ask what God would have them do, and grow spiritually.  Others blame the Lord and harden their hearts and turn away from God.  They don't have enough faith in the Lord and understanding of His plan to trust that He will always do what is best for them. They don't understand the marvelous blessing that death is.  Without this understanding, and thinking that death is the end, they ask how a loving God could allow these things to be.  They rail against God and curse Him and turn away from Him.


Again, I am moved to thank God for the faith and knowledge and understanding I have of His great Plan, of His lovingkindness, of his great gift of peace.

Lehi's Trial

I have my own theory about Lehi's murmuring which occurred when Nephi's bow was broken.  You remember how everyone murmured and complained when they were suffering for want of food.  And we're always a little disappointed that even Lehi is in the midst of this complaining.  Then after Nephi had made a new bow he went to Lehi to learn where to go to hunt.

1 Nephi 16:25 And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came unto my father; and he was truly ^achastened because of his murmuring against the Lord, insomuch that he was brought down into the depths of sorrow.

Now, if you will go with me to 2 Nephi 3:1, we will read the words of Lehi to his son Joseph many years later:  And now I speak unto you, Joseph, my ^alast-born. Thou wast born in the wilderness of mine afflictions; yea, in the days of my greatest sorrow did thy mother bear thee.

Note the use of the word "sorrow" in both verses.  Lehi was in the depths of sorrow because of his lack of faith and his murmuring, and later he recalls that as being his greatest sorrow.  But what was going on besides the loss of a bow and great hunger?  Sariah was giving birth to her 2nd son born in the wilderness.  (We don't know when the daughters were born).  Can you imagine Lehi's concern and worry about his small children, and especially a wife giving birth in a time of possible starvation?  

I say it's time to cut Lehi some slack and have compassion on his concern for his family.  This also relates to my post from yesterday about times when the Lord gives us a commandment, and then seems intent on making it difficult for us to complete that commandment.  Lehi was probably thinking, "I've been faithful in doing everything You asked of me, but my family is starving!  Why are You making it so difficult for us to go to this promised land?"

The answer, of course, is faith in the Lord's love for us.  Even trials and suffering, as much as we hate to think about it, are for our good and will bring us blessings.  If we remember that He loves us and wants what's best for us, we can work with faith to fashion a new bow, and rely on Him to show us where the food can be found.

The Broken Bow

We learn in 1 Nephi 16 about Nephi breaking his bow, and what a trial it was for everyone.  The other bows had lost their spring, and there was no way to obtain food.

The broken bow was no one's fault; it just happened!  Sometimes in our lives, it feels as if our bow is broken.  Some of the feelings that might have come to them (and probably come to us) were: Why did this have to happen?  What did I do to deserve this?  Why me?  How can I move forward now with this broken bow?  I'm just trying to do those things the Lord asked of me, but how can I possibly do them with this huge handicap?

We all know of people who are trying so hard to do the Lord's will, and sacrificing (seemingly) all to obey His will, and then some tragedy or trial or affliction comes to them, and they're left wondering how they can possibly complete their task.  Cancer strikes, or financial problems, or other problems, and they wonder how they can make bricks if they have no straw.

If only we could all be like Nephi and look for the next alternative and go and fashion a bow out of wood.  We should move forward with all the courage we can muster, and affirm our faith that the Lord is in charge and that He will get us through our wilderness if we humble ourselves and follow Him.

We Shall See Him As He Is

Twice in the scriptures, this phrase is used:  
. . . when he shall ^bappear, we shall be ^clike him; for we shall ^dsee him as he is.


One of the times is in 1 John 3:2 and the other is Moroni 7:48.  I've always loved the idea that we would be like Him, but was unsure about what it meant to see Him as He is.  Some people have explained that seeing Him with a resurrected body, not just a spirit body, is what is meant.  But during my prayers this morning, the thought came to me that I was full of gratitude for the knowledge that God and His Son are not like the gods worshiped by the majority of the Christian world.  They worship a god who is "without body, parts, or passions".  The god of the holy trinity is so confusing that people have been debating it for thousands of years, and if you do a Google search, you see that many people are still struggling with the concept.


A popular description of why God does the things He does is that it is for His own good pleasure.  So our God is moving us around as puppets for the enjoyment of the show?  He is playing a game of Sim World for the entertainment we provide?  It makes me think of Q on Star Trek.  These Q had all power, but played with species and peoples and worlds just to watch them squirm or see what they would do.  Everywhere you go, you see examples of gods that are Omnipotent, Omnipresent and Omniscient, but have no love.  How can anyone worship a God who is all powerful, everywhere-present, and knows all, but views our lives and our loves and fears and desires and hopes with detachment and amusement or scorn?


The God I worship has all power, but is filled with love and compassion.  The Son endured unimaginable pain and suffering for us while the Father suffered as He watched and allowed His Only Begotten to suffer such pain.  These are not passionless Gods.  They have sacrificed and continue to sacrifice to provide and succor and comfort all of us.


If I want to go where God goes and do as He does and be like Him, I must realize what He's like as much as I can.  I must study His works and His words, and talk to Him frequently and fervently, and emulate Him more and more.  He loves us; He serves us; He comforts us and sacrifices for us.  This is a God worth worshiping.  

He Beheld Not the Filthiness

Nephi is explaining Lehi's dream to his brothers and they want to know about the river of water.  Nephi tells them that the water was filthiness and ". . . so much was his mind swallowed up in other things that he beheld not the filthiness of the water."

In our lives we are surrounded by filthiness, as much as we would like to avoid it.  We certainly don't want to go wading in it, but Lehi's experience  teaches us that if we fill our minds and lives with good, uplifting things we can tune out much of the worldly and unworthy parts of the world around us.


I remember hearing a story about President David O. McKay being at a Pioneer Day parade in Salt Lake.  Someone later asked him if he wasn't scandalized at the short skirts of the cheerleaders and pom pom girls in the parade.  He replied that he hadn't noticed any short skirts; he only saw some lovely, sweet young ladies.


"Unto the pure are all things pure", according to Titus 1:15.  We need to focus on the good, the uplifting, the holy; studying our scriptures, attending the temple and our church meetings, being righteously engaged in service and other good causes.  Only then can we travel through the World that we are "in but not of", and "[behold] not".