"And my father dwelt in a tent.
And it came to pass that I, Nephi, being exceedingly young, nevertheless being large in stature, and also having great desires to know of the mysteries of God, wherefore, I did cry unto the Lord; and behold he did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father; wherefore, I did not rebel against him like unto my brothers."
1 Nephi 2:15-16
God warned Lehi to leave Jerusalem, and so he did, leaving behind his house and his land and his friends and his significant worldly possessions to live in a tent. Today, most people would call that crazy. Back then too; a lot of his family thought he was insane and wanted to go back. But Nephi prayed and talked to God about it instead, and God softened his heart, and let him know that his father, instead of being crazy, was actually saving their lives. God was leading them to a promised land.
In our time, a lot of things are dismissed as crazy or unreasonable too. Not drinking or smoking or watching R-rated movies. Paying tithing. Avoiding premarital sex. Praying, believing in God, temple work, the Book of Mormon, modern revelation. So many things that we do for God are seen as insane to others. And unfortunately, we often see things that God asks as insane as well. As with most people, we find sanity only in people who agree with us.
Today, instead of looking around at the crazy world and judging things by our opinions, let's learn a lesson from Nephi. Let's commune with God and start learning what *he* values, and what *he* feels is important. Let's listen to his judgement and allow ourselves to be swayed by his desires. We can't yet see all that he sees, or know all that he knows. Sometimes it is right to walk away from the gold and silver and luxury to live in a tent. Sometimes it is right to hope in the midst of apparent defeat. If we stick with God, things will work out. We don't have to see how right now. We just have to believe and trust, and do as he asks. Even if it is a tent in the middle of nowhere. It is on the way to the promised land.
And it came to pass that I, Nephi, being exceedingly young, nevertheless being large in stature, and also having great desires to know of the mysteries of God, wherefore, I did cry unto the Lord; and behold he did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father; wherefore, I did not rebel against him like unto my brothers."
1 Nephi 2:15-16
God warned Lehi to leave Jerusalem, and so he did, leaving behind his house and his land and his friends and his significant worldly possessions to live in a tent. Today, most people would call that crazy. Back then too; a lot of his family thought he was insane and wanted to go back. But Nephi prayed and talked to God about it instead, and God softened his heart, and let him know that his father, instead of being crazy, was actually saving their lives. God was leading them to a promised land.
In our time, a lot of things are dismissed as crazy or unreasonable too. Not drinking or smoking or watching R-rated movies. Paying tithing. Avoiding premarital sex. Praying, believing in God, temple work, the Book of Mormon, modern revelation. So many things that we do for God are seen as insane to others. And unfortunately, we often see things that God asks as insane as well. As with most people, we find sanity only in people who agree with us.
Today, instead of looking around at the crazy world and judging things by our opinions, let's learn a lesson from Nephi. Let's commune with God and start learning what *he* values, and what *he* feels is important. Let's listen to his judgement and allow ourselves to be swayed by his desires. We can't yet see all that he sees, or know all that he knows. Sometimes it is right to walk away from the gold and silver and luxury to live in a tent. Sometimes it is right to hope in the midst of apparent defeat. If we stick with God, things will work out. We don't have to see how right now. We just have to believe and trust, and do as he asks. Even if it is a tent in the middle of nowhere. It is on the way to the promised land.
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