"And Enos lived ninety years, and begat Cainan. And Enos and the residue of the people of God came out from the land, which was called Shulon, and dwelt in a land of promise, which he called after his own son, whom he had named Cainan."
Moses 6:17
I love the theme of the promised land. In this case, a couple of verses earlier we learn that "in those days Satan had great dominion among men, and raged in their hearts," which is likely why they were led to a land of promise. But even here, close to the beginning of man, where everyone alive had probably known Adam, since they lived for so long back then, God provided promised lands for people, and led them away from the evil, to start over. And I think sometimes we need the same thing. We get surrounded sometimes, by temptation, or memory of past sin, or people who expect us to be who we used to be which makes it hard to be someone new. We stay in places where the physical surroundings encourage us to look back and become like Lot's wife. And I'm not saying that we can't change the context or make new memories in old places. Sometimes we can. But let's be open to that message from God which sometimes comes, as it came to Enos, and Moses, and Lehi, and even Brigham Young. And when God asks us to go, it isn't always to escape anything at all, but just because God has something better in store for us. Even if it is just moving down the block, or into a new job, let's listen when God whispers to us that there is something better. Let's embrace the idea of the promised land, and be able to let go of the past and what we have been. Until we can let go of the past, we can't be ready to embrace the future. And, if we are led into it by God, it will without doubt be a glorious future. We don't have to be afraid.
Moses 6:17
I love the theme of the promised land. In this case, a couple of verses earlier we learn that "in those days Satan had great dominion among men, and raged in their hearts," which is likely why they were led to a land of promise. But even here, close to the beginning of man, where everyone alive had probably known Adam, since they lived for so long back then, God provided promised lands for people, and led them away from the evil, to start over. And I think sometimes we need the same thing. We get surrounded sometimes, by temptation, or memory of past sin, or people who expect us to be who we used to be which makes it hard to be someone new. We stay in places where the physical surroundings encourage us to look back and become like Lot's wife. And I'm not saying that we can't change the context or make new memories in old places. Sometimes we can. But let's be open to that message from God which sometimes comes, as it came to Enos, and Moses, and Lehi, and even Brigham Young. And when God asks us to go, it isn't always to escape anything at all, but just because God has something better in store for us. Even if it is just moving down the block, or into a new job, let's listen when God whispers to us that there is something better. Let's embrace the idea of the promised land, and be able to let go of the past and what we have been. Until we can let go of the past, we can't be ready to embrace the future. And, if we are led into it by God, it will without doubt be a glorious future. We don't have to be afraid.
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