Last year I read the Book of Mormon, and in late November or early December I was in Ether, reading the account of the Brother of Jared. I was struck by what was recorded about his passage to the promised land:
5 And it came to pass that the Lord God caused that there should be a furious wind blow upon the face of the waters, towards the promised land; and thus they were tossed upon the waves of the sea before the wind. 6And it came to pass that they were many times buried in the depths of the sea, because of the mountain waves which broke upon them, and also the great and terrible tempests which were caused by the fierceness of the wind.7And it came to pass that when they were buried in the deep there was no water that could hurt them, their vessels being tight like unto a dish, and also they were tight like unto the ark of Noah; therefore when they were encompassed about by many waters they did cry unto the Lord, and he did bring them forth again upon the top of the waters.8And it came to pass that the wind did never cease to blow towards the promised land while they were upon the waters; and thus they were driven forth before the wind. 9And they did sing praises unto the Lord; yea, the brother of Jared did sing praises unto the Lord, and he did thank and praise the Lord all the day long; and when the night came, they did not cease to praise the Lord. 10And thus they were driven forth; and no monster of the sea could break them, neither whale that could mar them; and they did have light continually, whether it was above the water or under the water.11And thus they were driven forth, three hundred and forty and four days upon the water.12And they did land upon the shore of the promised land. And when they had set their feet upon the shores of the promised land they bowed themselves down upon the face of the land, and did humble themselves before the Lord, and did shed tears of joy before the Lord, because of the multitude of his tender mercies over them. (Ether 6: 5-12)
I felt like I could relate to the Jaredites as they spent a year being tossed about and having mountain waves break on them and being buried and encompassed about. Last year was a difficult year--dark and overwhelming and turbulent. I also related to them in singing praises to the Lord even in the midst of a difficult journey, and having light in the darkness.
It occurred to me as I read, that the Jaredite crossing is like our life. In order to get us to the promised land, the Lord has to send a strong wind (opposition) which buffets and challenges us, which discomfits and overwhelms us. If the crossing is made in darkness, which for many of us it is, we may rail about a cruel, capricious God who doesn't listen to our pleas for calmer seas, and doesn't care that we are weary and miserable. In the light, though, we see otherwise.
The light that the brother of Jared (tboJ) brought onto the boats was a physical light, but I realized that it represented much more. When tboJ went to the Lord to get light, he received Light--truth, knowledge and an understanding of things as they really are and really will be. He spoke with Jesus face to face and saw all things from the end to the beginning. He acted in faith and came away with an unshakable testimony of the nature of God, his Son, and their love for us. That was the LIGHT he brought with him. That was why he could sing praises to God in the midst of tempests, and never cease from praising in the dark of night. He saw clearly, he knew rightly, so no storm could shake him, and he did not vacillate with the waves of affliction or opinion or philosophy. (James 1:6)
In later reflection, I remembered it was two of those stones that became the urim and thummim (lights and perfections), and which brought truth to light for Joseph Smith as he searched for a solid foundation in his world of turbulent religion and shifting doctrines.
I am grateful for the gift of light and truth. It allows me to get through dark times and places without losing sight of what is real or give in to relativity and despair. Instead, I can praise the Lord without ceasing and understand that the winds and waves which beset me can be for my good, and can blow me forth to the promised land.
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