While living in California for a couple of years, I missed a particular family get-together that has been repeatedly retold ever since. The story goes that my niece, a toddler at the time, was just catching on to the concept of Christmas and what it meant to be given a gift. One of the gifts that she received was unforgettable – a pair of socks. She was so excited! Because of her reaction, someone in the family decided to hand her another gift. The socks were rewrapped and presented to her again. To her delight she received “another” pair. I’m not sure exactly how long Christmas kept improving like this until she realized that she was continually reopening the same gift.
Boyd K. Packer once said, “Things that don’t change remain the same.” It’s a nice piece of common sense, don’t you think? With the scarcity of common sense sometimes, it is helpful to have the obvious pointed out so plainly. I often wonder why some circumstances in my life don’t seem to change as fast as I would like. Then I look to see if I have done anything to merit a different outcome. “Hmm. I guess not,” is my usual observation.
My wife and I have been discussing some of our observations about change this week on our early morning walks. I won’t steal too much of her thunder, but she had a great analogy for life’s lessons. We all seem to learn the same lessons, but we often learn them in a different order. Sometimes we don’t learn from them when the opportunity is given to us. Consequently, we keep opening the same present expecting a different result. I’m not sure about you, but I often find the wrapping paper looks a little different, but the bow that wraps up the gift seems to be the same each time.
Whether or not change is desirable seems to have everything to do with choices. If I have control over my choices, and the resulting change, I feel better about things. When I feel like the change is out of my control, and that it limits my choices, I feel very uncomfortable. Sometimes I feel trapped, frozen, or confined. I feel like I am being acted upon because I am not able to control my circumstances. It is interesting to note that agency is the freedom to choose within a given set of conditions. I don’t always get to choose the conditions, which leaves me with the feeling of not having control. This doesn’t mean I have lost my agency, or my ability to choose.
Liz and I recently talked with some good friends about the types of change we have felt and experienced this year. Some changes are a gradual deluge of blessings or trials. Some are more abruptly taken or given. Occasionally a change may appear to take everything you have learned and turn it upside down, as though it no longer is true, only to find out that you just had to shake out the parts that weren’t true to make room for things that are truer. Each type of change has its place in the lessons we get to unwrap. That said, it is still easier to make sense of a difficult lesson after you have gone through it and completed it than it is to get your bearings when you are right in the middle.
One beautiful example of change is the transformation of a caterpillar to a butterfly. The caterpillar has its own type of beauty, while the butterfly has an aesthetic quality that seems to be more widely recognized. Seldom, however, have I heard anyone say, “Hey, look at that! Have you ever seen such a stunning cocoon?” Yet it is inside the veil-thin walls of a cocoon that the beautiful transformation takes place. The separation is just enough for the caterpillar to become something new and amazing, no matter how confining it appears. Having experienced mild forms of claustrophobia before, I wonder what the caterpillar feels like during the process.
Another type of change is related to temperance, or the ability to endure lessened conditions. In the case of tempered steel, a piece of steel is gradually heated to a very hot temperature. At the appropriate time and condition, the steel is then plunged into cold water, which causes a reaction in the metal. The immediate change in circumstances may seem a shock to the system, but it makes the steel much, much stronger. There are times when I have had a gradual increase in blessings, only to have them taken away in an instant. Conversely, I have also had trials that increased gradually to where it seemed I could bear no more, and then there was instantaneous relief. I remember those sudden changes acutely, with both sorrow and happiness.
Whether a slow process of being confined with in a veil or cocoon, or the abrupt process of tempering, change becomes more manageable and endurable when I can count on someone to help me through the process who knows exactly what I am feeling. In many cases, the only one who understands completely is God.
C. S. Lewis compared this transformation process to God helping us with a slight remodeling job. “Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right, and stopping the leaks in the roof, and so on: you knew that those jobs needed doing and you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably, and does not seem to make sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of– throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were going to be made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.”
It is often difficult to tell at the onset whether God is giving us a trial or a blessing. There have been many times that I have received a blessing only to discover that it was a test to see if I would do what I said I would do in a circumstance where I had less need. I have also found a number of trials to be great blessings after the fact because of the way they made me stronger, more capable, and more able to receive greater blessings. The more I experience change, the more inclined I am to hold out on passing judgment, and simply acknowledge that Father knows a better way.
The Lord taught Joseph Smith an important principle about accountability. He said, “He that receiveth of God, let him account it of God; and let him rejoice that he is accounted of God worthy to receive.” (Doctrine & Covenants 50:34) Each phrase in this sentence is worth looking at carefully. The Lord doesn’t specify whether it is blessings or trials that we receive at His hand, just that we should acknowledge Him if He is the giver. This also implies that accountability is not just responsibility, but acknowledging duty and devotion to the giver. Lastly, the fact that we have received a trial or blessing from God implies that He feels we are ready for it. Receiving an opportunity or a lesson from God is different than taking it. Perhaps there are trials that may be self-induced, but all blessings come from God and we should rejoice that He stays involved in our personal lives.
If I can get past my initial assessment of whether an experience, opportunity, or lesson is a blessing or a trial, and merely recognize when it is of God, then my perception of the experience undergoes a change. It may not be easy, but my attitude will likely be different and the change begins to affect me internally and not just externally. This requires me to change my mind about changing my heart, a softening that helps me to yield because I know God is always right.
Many years ago when I was a teenager, I read in Matthew 3 where there is a description of John the Baptist. I looked at a footnote to John’s name and saw the following, “The Greek word denotes ‘a change of heart or mind,’ i.e. ‘a conversion.’ ” Since I share his name, I was excited that my name had that kind of meaning. It gave me the desire to be converted to a greater degree. I was inspired to actively seek a change of heart and mind rather than fear it. This simple verse had a great impact on me for many years. It was only recently that I read that same passage again and made a startling discovery. I realized that I had read the wrong footnote. The note that I had attached myself to referred to the word, “repent,” that appears in the adjacent verse. I had been mistaken about the reference perhaps, but I hadn’t been wrong about the meaning.
This epiphany (or rather, apostrophe, if you will) didn’t shatter me because I had been wrong about reality. Whether or not the verse pointed to the footnote that meant so much to me was irrelevant. The important truth, in this case, was that I saw something that inspired me, enough that I wanted to change for the better. I made a choice. The truth was, I had read something full of meaning and I internalized it. It was powerful enough that it caused me to make changes on my own. I had followed a partial idea that led me to a much better place. Occasionally when I experience a change, and the world as I know it seems to turn upside down, I find that I am just shaking off the things that may not be true. Then when everything turns right-side-up again, I have a more accurate picture that leads me to an even better place. So much of my ability to do this depends on faith and intent.
Alma the younger spoke of his father, Alma, and the change that he underwent as he listened to the prophet Abinadi. He said, “And according to his faith there was a mighty change wrought in his heart. Behold I say unto you that this is all true.” (Alma 5:12) Changes were occurring all around Alma the elder. He was being taught that many of his choices had been wrong. Even though he was a priest called to lead the people to do good, he was leading them astray. Alma began to internalize what he heard into something that he could feel. Instead of hardening his heart and resisting change, he softened his heart and acted upon what he knew to be true. Because of his faith, he wrought a mighty change.
The beauty of this example is that Alma was in control of whether he was acting or being acted upon. Rather than choosing to be angry at the implications on his character, he chose the path of greater freedom. He chose not to resist the changes the Lord wanted to make in his life. Alma also records what the Lord did for others. “Behold, he changed their hearts; yea, he awakened them out of a deep sleep, and they awoke unto God.” (Alma 5:7) This suggests that a hardened heart is sleepy and not very cognizant. Choosing to resist God lulls us further to sleep to where we have a diminished sense of reality. On the other hand, obeying God gives us increased understanding, ability, and awareness. When we are presented with an opportunity for positive change, it always leads to a better place.
As a creature of habit and weakness looking for stability and security, change does not come easy for me. A willingness to be obedient doesn’t necessarily make obedience less painful. Instead, that willingness may provide an opportunity to get to a better place with less lingering in sorrow or sleepy resistance. The difficulty of the change does not dissipate or disappear, but the opportunity to change increases my opportunity to find greater happiness sooner. If I wish to be like God, I have to be willing to change. I need to depend upon Him and rely upon His understanding to get me through the transformation. I have to trust that I will be safe within the veil of my understanding. The cocoon is there to protect me as much as provide a reason to have faith. As I am tempered, my desire may grow stronger, but so does my ability to make correct choices. Through practice, I become more and more comfortable with change, even when it is difficult. Through obedience I become more like God.
There is a small irony with change. God is constant and does not vary. “I am the Lord, I change not….” (Malachi 3:6) And yet He asks us to do something that He does not do. Why? God only asks us to change so we can become more like Him. He wants us to eliminate our imperfections and our sins. He wants us to change our hearts to match His. When we have done that, we will no longer be required to change. Until then, He will continue to provide us with opportunities to change for the better. If we see them for what they are, and we internalize these changes in our hearts, He will provide more opportunities. If not, we may find that we keep getting the same opportunity again and again. The wrapping may be different, but the bow that ties it all together is usually the same.
Change is rarely easy, but it is the path back to Father. Placing my faith in Him allows me to internalize the changes occurring around me and soften my heart. As my heart becomes more flexible, I become more like Him. I become more eligible to access His power that makes all things seem possible. All I have to do is turn to Him. Difficult challenges become more manageable and endurable when I can count on someone to help me through the process who knows exactly what I am feeling. In most cases, the only one who fits that description is the One who provided the opportunity for me to change in the first place. Receiving positive change is receiving God. Placing my faith in Him as I open my heart to change makes all the difference in the outcome.
http://saltypockets.blogspot.com/
Showing posts with label Veil. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Veil. Show all posts
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Among the Clouds
Hail, precipice of solid rock!
From ground to clouds the sky you’ve climbed,
While lesser things the earth will walk,
In Babel’s shadow left to talk.
Adorned with clouds and hid from sight
Your tops are veiled with densest fog.
And yet, I’d face uncertain fright
If I but once could reach your height.
Among my fears, which is my test?
The mountain tall or clouded thought?
From which will I first seek some rest
When strength is gone and doubt expressed?
Dear Brother, you have gone before
With sixteen stones for glowing light.
I ask again, please, pray once more
That I, too, might have knowledge sure.
Consider mountain, rock, and stone,
With clouds and fog that veil the Light.
The obstacle that hides the throne
Is also that which makes Him known.
Just as the Lord without disguise
Stretched forth his hand and touched the stones,
The veil was taken from your eyes
And doubt gave way to parted skies.
When few with faith are thus endowed
Shall I with hope appraise my own
By mountains climbed, which veils enshroud,
Or my comfort among the clouds?
Hail, Brother! Thou that stands
Upon Mount Shelem, nigh with God,
With eighteen stones now in thy hands
To light the way to distant lands.
And so it is when you return,
You bring the height of mountains back
Deep in your heart where hope will yearn,
Then I with faith will start to learn.
http://saltypockets.blogspot.com/
From ground to clouds the sky you’ve climbed,
While lesser things the earth will walk,
In Babel’s shadow left to talk.
Adorned with clouds and hid from sight
Your tops are veiled with densest fog.
And yet, I’d face uncertain fright
If I but once could reach your height.
Among my fears, which is my test?
The mountain tall or clouded thought?
From which will I first seek some rest
When strength is gone and doubt expressed?
Dear Brother, you have gone before
With sixteen stones for glowing light.
I ask again, please, pray once more
That I, too, might have knowledge sure.
Consider mountain, rock, and stone,
With clouds and fog that veil the Light.
The obstacle that hides the throne
Is also that which makes Him known.
Just as the Lord without disguise
Stretched forth his hand and touched the stones,
The veil was taken from your eyes
And doubt gave way to parted skies.
When few with faith are thus endowed
Shall I with hope appraise my own
By mountains climbed, which veils enshroud,
Or my comfort among the clouds?
Hail, Brother! Thou that stands
Upon Mount Shelem, nigh with God,
With eighteen stones now in thy hands
To light the way to distant lands.
And so it is when you return,
You bring the height of mountains back
Deep in your heart where hope will yearn,
Then I with faith will start to learn.
http://saltypockets.blogspot.com/
Monday, March 29, 2010
Oh Brother
If you don’t know him, I’d like you to meet my older brother, Burke. Let me introduce you to a champion basketball player who speaks Japanese, has a background in CAD design, loves to travel, specializes in IT support, and manages an electronic vault for his national company. He likes digital scrapbooking and web page design, loves adventure, and above all, he’s a family man. Burke is very well-rounded and fun loving. Not only is he someone I have looked up to all my life, he is confident, friendly, charismatic, energetic, and very dependable. My only fault with him is that he got the lion’s share of good looks between the two of us. Well, I got over that, and I still love him. Grin. Recently his example has given me even more to admire.
Burke has spent the last several months learning to deal with cancer. It has been challenging for me to watch, and much more challenging for him to face. His first set of treatments was unsuccessful, and we are now waiting to hear the results of the second attempt. Typical of my brother, he has been very positive and calm. He has a lot of faith. He has also experienced a lot of discomfort without complaint. Family members have rallied around him, but there are some challenges where you feel helpless to do anything. This has been one of them. I have felt like I couldn’t do more than listen and pray.
My present anxiety for my brother has caused me to think about one of my personal heroes, Mahonri Moriancumer. He is an example of great faith that has taught me a lot about prayer. Fortunately he was a writer, and it was important for him to keep a record of his life. Were it not for this brief account of his experiences, we may never have known about this man. It was said of him that his words were so great that they were overpowering for man to read them. (Ether 12:24) One thing that is significant in his record is his relationship with his brother.
It is not the relationship of the two brothers that intrigues me as much as the example of their faith, prayers, and how those prayers were answered. I believe in this there is a significant lesson to be learned if we desire to return to God.
For reasons that remain unknown, we would only know Mahonri as “the brother of Jared” were in not for a modern source. While Jared is named in the record, and his brother is not, we know even less about Jared. Both lived a few thousand years ago in the Western Hemisphere. Before coming to this continent, however, they were contemporaries of Nimrod in the Old Testament and lived in Babel which later became Babylon. These two brothers left Babel with their friends and family and became a large nation of people.
At the time that God confounded the languages when the sons of men built the tower of Babel, Jared was worried for their families and friends, that they would be confounded too. The account does not say how Jared knew this, or why he was worried. It does not clearly say why God was disappointed in His children. What it does say is that the Lord “swore in his wrath that [the people] should be scattered upon all the face of the earth; and according to the word of the Lord the people were scattered.” (Ether 1:33) Somehow Jared had warning of this, yet it is his response that was significant.
Jared believed in God enough that he knew where to turn for help in his troubles – he understood the power of prayer. What is curious about the account is who he preferred to do the praying. It was his brother. Again, his reasons are not known, but we do know that the brother of Jared was “a man highly favored of the Lord,” so Jared asked him to appeal to the Lord for help. It was as if he said, “Oh brother, can you help me?” Jared said, “Cry unto the Lord, that he will not confound us that we may not understand our words.” (Ether 1:34) His brother did so and the Lord answered his prayer. Similarly, he prayed for their friends and their families, and they were not confounded.
Having had successfully received the desired answers to prayer, Jared again asked his brother to pray, saying, “Go and inquire of the Lord whether he will drive us out of the land, and if he will drive us out of the land, cry unto him whither we shall go. And who knoweth but the Lord will carry us forth into a land which is choice above all the earth: And if it so be, let us be faithful unto the Lord, that we may receive it for our inheritance.” (Ether 1:38) Jared’s request suggests that there was some concern that they would have to leave. It also suggests that he had enough faith in God to believe that he would provide a way. What that way was, he could only hope. However, Jared did have the desire to be faithful and he was again rewarded.
When the brother of Jared prayed again, the Lord told him to gather their possessions and make preparations to leave and He would lead them to a land that was choice above all other lands of the earth where they would become a great nation. The part of the Lord’s response that intrigues me the most is a simple sentence that explains why he would do such a thing. He said, “And thus I will do unto thee because this long time ye have cried unto me.” (Ether 1:43)
The Lord led this group of family and friends through a part of the wilderness where man had not yet been before. He spoke to the brother of Jared in a cloud, and gave directions where they should travel. These directions led them to a great sea where they pitched their tents for four years. At the end of those four years, the Lord again spoke to the brother of Jared in a cloud for three hours. It is unique that, during that conversation, the Lord chastened the brother of Jared for not remembering to call upon the Lord in prayer.
I have often wondered at this passage because it appears to be a strange contradiction. Here is a man who knows how to pray and is highly favored of the Lord. Not only did he pray and successfully receive answers to his prayers, but the Lord continually spoke to him to direct him. So what happened? Was the brother of Jared the type of person who would suddenly forget what the Lord had done? Perhaps, but I am not certain.
Four years seems a long time to camp on the beach. I wonder if this group of family and friends felt they had arrived at the promised land or if they were waiting for additional instructions, whenever it happened to be that they came. The record does not say. If, however, they were not convinced that they had arrived, then the sea would have seemed an interesting obstacle for them, one larger than they had faced to that point. At least it was enough to stop them for four years. Whether they were satisfied with a partial blessing as an answer to their prayers, or they saw the sea as an obstacle to their goal, I can find a personal application.
I know in my own life that I have had a pattern of prayer that has been consistent since I was little. I have prayed morning and night and often throughout the day. Yet there have been times that I have forgotten to pray with real intent. I haven’t forgotten Father. I have just forgotten to make a concerted effort to show him that I was serious. If my needs seem to be taken care of, it is easy to ease up in my intensity. Living on a beach may not be such a bad thing, unless it keeps you from praying for help to get to a better land or place.
There have also been other times that I have had obstacles placed in my way. For a long time I may consider the obstacle or trial, wondering how I am going to overcome it. Like the sea, it may seem impossible to cross or go around. Then, after some time, I decide to pray and ask for help. As often as I have prayed, the Lord has directed me. He hears and answers prayers. Repeatedly in the scriptures, he reassures us, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” (Matthew 6:7-8) For whichever reason the brother of Jared did not remember to call upon God, when he repented and cried unto the Lord, the Lord again heard and answered his prayers.
There are some interesting lessons we can learn at this point from Jared and his brother. Both provide valuable insight on our own requests to the Lord. As we follow their example, we may increase the likelihood of receiving similar answers.
Jared was conscientious of the Lord’s warnings and took them seriously. He knew that God could help with his troubles, and he believed in prayer. Jared had the desire for his family and friends to be faithful so that the Lord could bless them. He believed that the Lord would provide a way for their deliverance.
The brother of Jared was highly favored of the Lord. The Lord answered his prayers because he cried unto the Lord for a long time. Perhaps the importance was not the duration of a single prayer, but the duration of a heart-felt habit. Because of his faith, the Lord spoke to the brother of Jared and gave him directions that led him where man had not been before. This in and of itself is an act of faith.
After their stay at the beach, the Lord told the brother of Jared that he would take them across the ocean to another land, and that they would need to build barges to travel in. The barges were to be water-tight and could not have windows. They were to have an opening in the top and in the bottom for functional reasons such as letting in fresh air.
After the brother of Jared had completed making the barges, he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, I have performed the work which thou hast commanded me, and I have made the barges according as thou hast directed me.” (Ether 2:18) Simply put, he was diligent in making sure that he had done everything the Lord had asked of him before asking for another blessing. Since blessings are predicated upon obedience, the brother of Jared wanted to do everything possible to increase the likelihood that the Lord would help him. But then he discovered a problem.
The barges built to the specifications the Lord had given to the brother of Jared did not allow for any light when the openings were sealed. This would have made for a long journey in the dark. When the brother of Jared asked the Lord what to do, His response was, “what will ye that I should prepare for you that ye may have light when ye are swallowed up in the depths of the sea?” (Ether 2:25) The Lord expected him to be part of the solution.
To that point, the brother of Jared was used to receiving unique answers to prayer. While languages of other people had been confounded, his group’s had not. When they traveled through the wilderness where no one had been before, the Lord was their guide. As the brother of Jared pondered what he wanted the Lord to do for him, he again came up with a possibility that was unique. He fashioned sixteen stones out of molten rock that were transparent and white. And then he prayed.
“O Lord, thou hast said that we must be encompassed about by the floods. Now behold, O Lord, and do not be angry with thy servant because of his weakness before thee; for we know that thou art holy and dwellest in the heavens, and that we are unworthy before thee; because of the fall our natures have become evil continually; nevertheless, O Lord, thou hast given us a commandment that we must call upon thee, that from thee we may receive according to our desires.
“Behold, O Lord, thou hast smitten us because of our iniquity, and hast driven us forth, and for these many years we have been in the wilderness; nevertheless, thou hast been merciful unto us. O Lord, look upon me in pity, and turn away thine anger from this thy people, and suffer not that they shall go forth across this raging deep in darkness; but behold these things which I have molten out of the rock.
“And I know, O Lord, that thou hast all power, and can do whatsoever thou wilt for the benefit of man; therefore touch these stones, O Lord, with thy finger, and prepare them that they may shine forth in darkness; and they shall shine forth unto us in the vessels which we have prepared, that we may have light while we shall cross the sea.
“Behold, O Lord, thou canst do this. We know that thou art able to show forth great power, which looks small unto the understanding of men.” (Ether 3:2-5)
Following that moment of prayer, something wonderful occurred. The Lord stretched forth his hand from the cloud and touched the stones with his finger, and the veil was taken from off the eyes of the brother of Jared. As unique of an occurrence as it would have been to have seen the finger of God, the part I feel is most unique is the fact that the veil was removed from his eyes. It was the veil of unbelief that withholds our memory of premortal things; the veil that separates us from God. Similar to the veil of the Israelite tabernacle or temple, it is light enough that it can be lifted when the time is right. It may be lifted when our faith is sufficient.
After seeing this sight, the brother of Jared fell to the ground out of fear because he did not expect to see the finger of the Lord. When the Lord asked if he saw more, he replied that he did not and then asked the Lord to show Himself to him. Just as the brother of Jared described that God’s commandment for us to pray for our desires, the Lord granted the brother of Jared his desire and showed Himself unto him, and said, “Because thou knowest these things ye are redeemed from the fall; therefore ye are brought back into my presence; therefore I show myself unto you. Behold, I am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ.” (Ether 3:13-14) The brother of Jared saw the Lord in spirit as he would appear when born on the earth over two thousand years later. The Lord then showed him all the inhabitants of the earth from the beginning to the end, and withheld them not from his sight. (Ether 3:25)
Again, to me it is less important what the brother of Jared saw, and more important that he did see because he could not be kept from within the veil any longer. Regarding these things, the prophet Moroni invites us to follow the same pattern of prayer. He invites us to cast off our doubt and fear and have faith like unto the brother of Jared.
“Come unto me, O ye Gentiles, and I will show unto you the greater things, the knowledge which is hid up because of unbelief. Come unto me, O ye house of Israel, and it shall be made manifest unto you how great things the Father hath laid up for you, from the foundation of the world; and it hath not come unto you, because of unbelief.” (Ether 4:13-14) His invitation is not to the prophets, but to Israel and the Gentiles alike. It is to all, which implies that it is within the reach of all to do. It is also not a matter of if, but of when.
Moroni continues, “Behold, when ye shall rend that veil of unbelief which doth cause you to remain in your awful state of wickedness, and hardness of heart, and blindness of mind, then shall the great and marvelous things which have been hid up from the foundation of the world from you—yea, when ye shall call upon the Father in my name, with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, then shall ye know that the Father hath remembered the covenant which he made unto your fathers, O house of Israel.” (Ether 4:15)
There is a certain amount of irony in the fact that the people of Babel were trying to reach God. It was their approach that failed. The brother of Jared not only reached the Lord, but he invited the Lord to reach toward him and touch the stones he had made. It was not the sky that separated the tower of Babel from the Lord, it was the veil of unbelief. It was something more intangible and less visible than even a veil.
So as I pray for my own brother, and consider the example of the brother of Jared, I wonder, “What is it I lack yet? What does it mean to have faith as the brother of Jared? What would it take for my requests for my brother to be heard and answered?” This is worth pondering. In part, it may be more than believing that God can answer our prayers and grant according to our desires. It may be more than believing that he can do all things. What would I need to change in my life if having more faith also meant making sure that what I ask for is aligned with what God wants? Here is a simple clue of how to find such faith.
When Jesus visited the people on the American continent after His resurrection, he prayed, and they prayed with Him. In the Book of Mormon we read, “And it came to pass that when Jesus had thus prayed unto the Father, he came unto his disciples, and behold, they did still continue, without ceasing, to pray unto him; and they did not multiply many words, for it was given unto them what they should pray, and they were filled with desire.” (3 Nephi 19:24) When we turn our hearts to the Lord, we turn our desires so they are properly aligned. When we are filled with His desire, then the Holy Spirit can teach us what to pray for and what not to pray for. Trusting in the Holy Spirit takes a lot of faith. Learning when to pray for our desires and when to yield takes a lot of restraint. It is an exercise in faith, trusting that God will deliver us. When we choose to follow the Lord, and we choose to follow His Spirit, the answer may not be what we want, but it will always be better.
Look again at the story of the brother of Jared. From the Lord’s perspective, He said He would scatter all the people on the face of the earth. He didn’t change His mind with Jared or his brother. The family and friends of the two brothers were still scattered, but they weren’t confounded. Something that seemed like a terrible thing, turned out not to be so bad because the Lord was with them. He spoke to them, He directed them, and He answered their prayers. He didn’t set them on a cruise liner for a vacation voyage across the sea for 344 days. Instead he put them in a place that was doable, though not exactly comfortable or desirable.
As they traversed the ocean, we learn that “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.” (Ether 6:7) This was by design so that they would turn their hearts to God. The brother of Jared had not remembered to call upon the Lord at one point. The Lord provided an experience that would help ensure that that mistake was not repeated a second time.
My prayers for my own brother have not ceased. Perhaps I need to cry unto the Lord for 344 days. Perhaps it is the habit of heart-felt prayer that is more important.
For me, the story of the brother of Jared is less about an obstacle of water, and more about a veil of unbelief. It has less to do with merely praying for what we want, and learning how to pray in a way that will help us to rend the veil. Whether it is your own trial, or that of your brother’s, these experiences are designed to help us lift the veil and behold the Lord.
It is a great comfort when you can turn to someone like a brother and ask them to pray for you. Praying is especially comforting when you know the key to successful prayer.
http://saltypockets.blogspot.com/
Burke has spent the last several months learning to deal with cancer. It has been challenging for me to watch, and much more challenging for him to face. His first set of treatments was unsuccessful, and we are now waiting to hear the results of the second attempt. Typical of my brother, he has been very positive and calm. He has a lot of faith. He has also experienced a lot of discomfort without complaint. Family members have rallied around him, but there are some challenges where you feel helpless to do anything. This has been one of them. I have felt like I couldn’t do more than listen and pray.
My present anxiety for my brother has caused me to think about one of my personal heroes, Mahonri Moriancumer. He is an example of great faith that has taught me a lot about prayer. Fortunately he was a writer, and it was important for him to keep a record of his life. Were it not for this brief account of his experiences, we may never have known about this man. It was said of him that his words were so great that they were overpowering for man to read them. (Ether 12:24) One thing that is significant in his record is his relationship with his brother.
It is not the relationship of the two brothers that intrigues me as much as the example of their faith, prayers, and how those prayers were answered. I believe in this there is a significant lesson to be learned if we desire to return to God.
For reasons that remain unknown, we would only know Mahonri as “the brother of Jared” were in not for a modern source. While Jared is named in the record, and his brother is not, we know even less about Jared. Both lived a few thousand years ago in the Western Hemisphere. Before coming to this continent, however, they were contemporaries of Nimrod in the Old Testament and lived in Babel which later became Babylon. These two brothers left Babel with their friends and family and became a large nation of people.
At the time that God confounded the languages when the sons of men built the tower of Babel, Jared was worried for their families and friends, that they would be confounded too. The account does not say how Jared knew this, or why he was worried. It does not clearly say why God was disappointed in His children. What it does say is that the Lord “swore in his wrath that [the people] should be scattered upon all the face of the earth; and according to the word of the Lord the people were scattered.” (Ether 1:33) Somehow Jared had warning of this, yet it is his response that was significant.
Jared believed in God enough that he knew where to turn for help in his troubles – he understood the power of prayer. What is curious about the account is who he preferred to do the praying. It was his brother. Again, his reasons are not known, but we do know that the brother of Jared was “a man highly favored of the Lord,” so Jared asked him to appeal to the Lord for help. It was as if he said, “Oh brother, can you help me?” Jared said, “Cry unto the Lord, that he will not confound us that we may not understand our words.” (Ether 1:34) His brother did so and the Lord answered his prayer. Similarly, he prayed for their friends and their families, and they were not confounded.
Having had successfully received the desired answers to prayer, Jared again asked his brother to pray, saying, “Go and inquire of the Lord whether he will drive us out of the land, and if he will drive us out of the land, cry unto him whither we shall go. And who knoweth but the Lord will carry us forth into a land which is choice above all the earth: And if it so be, let us be faithful unto the Lord, that we may receive it for our inheritance.” (Ether 1:38) Jared’s request suggests that there was some concern that they would have to leave. It also suggests that he had enough faith in God to believe that he would provide a way. What that way was, he could only hope. However, Jared did have the desire to be faithful and he was again rewarded.
When the brother of Jared prayed again, the Lord told him to gather their possessions and make preparations to leave and He would lead them to a land that was choice above all other lands of the earth where they would become a great nation. The part of the Lord’s response that intrigues me the most is a simple sentence that explains why he would do such a thing. He said, “And thus I will do unto thee because this long time ye have cried unto me.” (Ether 1:43)
The Lord led this group of family and friends through a part of the wilderness where man had not yet been before. He spoke to the brother of Jared in a cloud, and gave directions where they should travel. These directions led them to a great sea where they pitched their tents for four years. At the end of those four years, the Lord again spoke to the brother of Jared in a cloud for three hours. It is unique that, during that conversation, the Lord chastened the brother of Jared for not remembering to call upon the Lord in prayer.
I have often wondered at this passage because it appears to be a strange contradiction. Here is a man who knows how to pray and is highly favored of the Lord. Not only did he pray and successfully receive answers to his prayers, but the Lord continually spoke to him to direct him. So what happened? Was the brother of Jared the type of person who would suddenly forget what the Lord had done? Perhaps, but I am not certain.
Four years seems a long time to camp on the beach. I wonder if this group of family and friends felt they had arrived at the promised land or if they were waiting for additional instructions, whenever it happened to be that they came. The record does not say. If, however, they were not convinced that they had arrived, then the sea would have seemed an interesting obstacle for them, one larger than they had faced to that point. At least it was enough to stop them for four years. Whether they were satisfied with a partial blessing as an answer to their prayers, or they saw the sea as an obstacle to their goal, I can find a personal application.
I know in my own life that I have had a pattern of prayer that has been consistent since I was little. I have prayed morning and night and often throughout the day. Yet there have been times that I have forgotten to pray with real intent. I haven’t forgotten Father. I have just forgotten to make a concerted effort to show him that I was serious. If my needs seem to be taken care of, it is easy to ease up in my intensity. Living on a beach may not be such a bad thing, unless it keeps you from praying for help to get to a better land or place.
There have also been other times that I have had obstacles placed in my way. For a long time I may consider the obstacle or trial, wondering how I am going to overcome it. Like the sea, it may seem impossible to cross or go around. Then, after some time, I decide to pray and ask for help. As often as I have prayed, the Lord has directed me. He hears and answers prayers. Repeatedly in the scriptures, he reassures us, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” (Matthew 6:7-8) For whichever reason the brother of Jared did not remember to call upon God, when he repented and cried unto the Lord, the Lord again heard and answered his prayers.
There are some interesting lessons we can learn at this point from Jared and his brother. Both provide valuable insight on our own requests to the Lord. As we follow their example, we may increase the likelihood of receiving similar answers.
Jared was conscientious of the Lord’s warnings and took them seriously. He knew that God could help with his troubles, and he believed in prayer. Jared had the desire for his family and friends to be faithful so that the Lord could bless them. He believed that the Lord would provide a way for their deliverance.
The brother of Jared was highly favored of the Lord. The Lord answered his prayers because he cried unto the Lord for a long time. Perhaps the importance was not the duration of a single prayer, but the duration of a heart-felt habit. Because of his faith, the Lord spoke to the brother of Jared and gave him directions that led him where man had not been before. This in and of itself is an act of faith.
After their stay at the beach, the Lord told the brother of Jared that he would take them across the ocean to another land, and that they would need to build barges to travel in. The barges were to be water-tight and could not have windows. They were to have an opening in the top and in the bottom for functional reasons such as letting in fresh air.
After the brother of Jared had completed making the barges, he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, I have performed the work which thou hast commanded me, and I have made the barges according as thou hast directed me.” (Ether 2:18) Simply put, he was diligent in making sure that he had done everything the Lord had asked of him before asking for another blessing. Since blessings are predicated upon obedience, the brother of Jared wanted to do everything possible to increase the likelihood that the Lord would help him. But then he discovered a problem.
The barges built to the specifications the Lord had given to the brother of Jared did not allow for any light when the openings were sealed. This would have made for a long journey in the dark. When the brother of Jared asked the Lord what to do, His response was, “what will ye that I should prepare for you that ye may have light when ye are swallowed up in the depths of the sea?” (Ether 2:25) The Lord expected him to be part of the solution.
To that point, the brother of Jared was used to receiving unique answers to prayer. While languages of other people had been confounded, his group’s had not. When they traveled through the wilderness where no one had been before, the Lord was their guide. As the brother of Jared pondered what he wanted the Lord to do for him, he again came up with a possibility that was unique. He fashioned sixteen stones out of molten rock that were transparent and white. And then he prayed.
“O Lord, thou hast said that we must be encompassed about by the floods. Now behold, O Lord, and do not be angry with thy servant because of his weakness before thee; for we know that thou art holy and dwellest in the heavens, and that we are unworthy before thee; because of the fall our natures have become evil continually; nevertheless, O Lord, thou hast given us a commandment that we must call upon thee, that from thee we may receive according to our desires.
“Behold, O Lord, thou hast smitten us because of our iniquity, and hast driven us forth, and for these many years we have been in the wilderness; nevertheless, thou hast been merciful unto us. O Lord, look upon me in pity, and turn away thine anger from this thy people, and suffer not that they shall go forth across this raging deep in darkness; but behold these things which I have molten out of the rock.
“And I know, O Lord, that thou hast all power, and can do whatsoever thou wilt for the benefit of man; therefore touch these stones, O Lord, with thy finger, and prepare them that they may shine forth in darkness; and they shall shine forth unto us in the vessels which we have prepared, that we may have light while we shall cross the sea.
“Behold, O Lord, thou canst do this. We know that thou art able to show forth great power, which looks small unto the understanding of men.” (Ether 3:2-5)
Following that moment of prayer, something wonderful occurred. The Lord stretched forth his hand from the cloud and touched the stones with his finger, and the veil was taken from off the eyes of the brother of Jared. As unique of an occurrence as it would have been to have seen the finger of God, the part I feel is most unique is the fact that the veil was removed from his eyes. It was the veil of unbelief that withholds our memory of premortal things; the veil that separates us from God. Similar to the veil of the Israelite tabernacle or temple, it is light enough that it can be lifted when the time is right. It may be lifted when our faith is sufficient.
After seeing this sight, the brother of Jared fell to the ground out of fear because he did not expect to see the finger of the Lord. When the Lord asked if he saw more, he replied that he did not and then asked the Lord to show Himself to him. Just as the brother of Jared described that God’s commandment for us to pray for our desires, the Lord granted the brother of Jared his desire and showed Himself unto him, and said, “Because thou knowest these things ye are redeemed from the fall; therefore ye are brought back into my presence; therefore I show myself unto you. Behold, I am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ.” (Ether 3:13-14) The brother of Jared saw the Lord in spirit as he would appear when born on the earth over two thousand years later. The Lord then showed him all the inhabitants of the earth from the beginning to the end, and withheld them not from his sight. (Ether 3:25)
Again, to me it is less important what the brother of Jared saw, and more important that he did see because he could not be kept from within the veil any longer. Regarding these things, the prophet Moroni invites us to follow the same pattern of prayer. He invites us to cast off our doubt and fear and have faith like unto the brother of Jared.
“Come unto me, O ye Gentiles, and I will show unto you the greater things, the knowledge which is hid up because of unbelief. Come unto me, O ye house of Israel, and it shall be made manifest unto you how great things the Father hath laid up for you, from the foundation of the world; and it hath not come unto you, because of unbelief.” (Ether 4:13-14) His invitation is not to the prophets, but to Israel and the Gentiles alike. It is to all, which implies that it is within the reach of all to do. It is also not a matter of if, but of when.
Moroni continues, “Behold, when ye shall rend that veil of unbelief which doth cause you to remain in your awful state of wickedness, and hardness of heart, and blindness of mind, then shall the great and marvelous things which have been hid up from the foundation of the world from you—yea, when ye shall call upon the Father in my name, with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, then shall ye know that the Father hath remembered the covenant which he made unto your fathers, O house of Israel.” (Ether 4:15)
There is a certain amount of irony in the fact that the people of Babel were trying to reach God. It was their approach that failed. The brother of Jared not only reached the Lord, but he invited the Lord to reach toward him and touch the stones he had made. It was not the sky that separated the tower of Babel from the Lord, it was the veil of unbelief. It was something more intangible and less visible than even a veil.
So as I pray for my own brother, and consider the example of the brother of Jared, I wonder, “What is it I lack yet? What does it mean to have faith as the brother of Jared? What would it take for my requests for my brother to be heard and answered?” This is worth pondering. In part, it may be more than believing that God can answer our prayers and grant according to our desires. It may be more than believing that he can do all things. What would I need to change in my life if having more faith also meant making sure that what I ask for is aligned with what God wants? Here is a simple clue of how to find such faith.
When Jesus visited the people on the American continent after His resurrection, he prayed, and they prayed with Him. In the Book of Mormon we read, “And it came to pass that when Jesus had thus prayed unto the Father, he came unto his disciples, and behold, they did still continue, without ceasing, to pray unto him; and they did not multiply many words, for it was given unto them what they should pray, and they were filled with desire.” (3 Nephi 19:24) When we turn our hearts to the Lord, we turn our desires so they are properly aligned. When we are filled with His desire, then the Holy Spirit can teach us what to pray for and what not to pray for. Trusting in the Holy Spirit takes a lot of faith. Learning when to pray for our desires and when to yield takes a lot of restraint. It is an exercise in faith, trusting that God will deliver us. When we choose to follow the Lord, and we choose to follow His Spirit, the answer may not be what we want, but it will always be better.
Look again at the story of the brother of Jared. From the Lord’s perspective, He said He would scatter all the people on the face of the earth. He didn’t change His mind with Jared or his brother. The family and friends of the two brothers were still scattered, but they weren’t confounded. Something that seemed like a terrible thing, turned out not to be so bad because the Lord was with them. He spoke to them, He directed them, and He answered their prayers. He didn’t set them on a cruise liner for a vacation voyage across the sea for 344 days. Instead he put them in a place that was doable, though not exactly comfortable or desirable.
As they traversed the ocean, we learn that “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.” (Ether 6:7) This was by design so that they would turn their hearts to God. The brother of Jared had not remembered to call upon the Lord at one point. The Lord provided an experience that would help ensure that that mistake was not repeated a second time.
My prayers for my own brother have not ceased. Perhaps I need to cry unto the Lord for 344 days. Perhaps it is the habit of heart-felt prayer that is more important.
For me, the story of the brother of Jared is less about an obstacle of water, and more about a veil of unbelief. It has less to do with merely praying for what we want, and learning how to pray in a way that will help us to rend the veil. Whether it is your own trial, or that of your brother’s, these experiences are designed to help us lift the veil and behold the Lord.
It is a great comfort when you can turn to someone like a brother and ask them to pray for you. Praying is especially comforting when you know the key to successful prayer.
http://saltypockets.blogspot.com/
Monday, March 22, 2010
Veils and Nutshells
About twenty years ago I stood on a street corner at the Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco watching a panhandler very closely. He had tricked me. He hadn’t taken my money, but he had hoped that I would give him some because I was amused. The man was very good. His art was with his hands. Repeatedly he led me to believe one thing, and then showed another.
You may have seen a similar nutshell game at some point in your life. The person performing the trick attempts to conceal a small ball or object beneath one of three nutshells. The point of the trick is to move the nutshells around so that you loose track of where the ball is. A good performer uses other slight-of-hand tricks to hide the ball. Rather than move the shells quickly, they will conceal the ball in some other way so that even slow moves will confuse the observer as to which shell actually hides the ball.
I carefully watched the panhandler for a while before leaving for my next destination. His game was rather interesting to see. Each time I would note which shell he used to cover the ball. Time after time, I was certain I knew where the ball was. Each time I was wrong, or at least he had a very good way of tricking me because I couldn’t see it. Though he would only perform when someone would pay to see his trick, there were enough people who paid the piper that I could observe without buying into his game. The man’s trick was harmless really, and it generated enough income that he gained some meager subsistence from it.
After leaving the Wharf and the tourist attractions at Pier 39, I went with my family up along the coast of Northern California. The weather and terrain was much different than what I was used to along the southern coasts. Instead of warm sandy beaches and perfectly clear skies, the northern coast had beautiful rock formations that jutted abruptly into the water. They were white from the flocks of oceanic birds that roosted on the tops of the rocks. The steep slopes of the coast were lightly covered in a sea of ferns that disappeared into forests of beautiful redwoods. Everything about the scenery seemed slightly hidden and veiled. And then there was the sky.
The marine layer of the coastal air adds another characteristic to the veiled landscape. Clouds that touch the ground in the form of fog shroud the beauty of the water and the slopes in varying amounts. Sometimes the clouds roll in from the distant horizon of the ocean. Sometimes the fog is so thick and present that you can scarcely see trees that are not far in front of you. Not everyone likes clouds, but I find them very beautiful at times, especially when I can have stretches of clear blue sky in between.
I am especially intrigued by moments of entering. The point at which a low flying cloud approaches the rocks of the coast can be very slow and imperceptible. Often it is as though the sky merely thickens until you realize it isn’t just sky anymore. It is fog also. Things that were once clear are not easily identifiable. Objects you may have recognized just minutes before take on a different appearance and seem less familiar. This can be disconcerting if you are already in a new place or experience. However, if you are on an established road with a good road map, you can take in the view a little more leisurely. The historian John R. Stilgoe said, "Storm makes sense of shelter, and if the shelter is sound, the shelter makes the surrounding storm good...." (Gaston Bachelard, The Poetics of Space, p. viii)
In recalling my memories of that particular trip to California, I noticed a few similarities between the nutshells and the fog. Both tend to move. In both cases, the perception of the experience didn’t change reality. Though the nutshells moved back and forth, the ball never really disappeared. It just wasn’t visible. The same thing could be said of the waves, the rocks, and the forest along the coast. They didn’t vanish from existence temporarily, but their appearance was hidden. If there was one difference that stood out to me between the shells and the fog, it was the intent behind the things that were hidden. The fog had no intent, it was just there. It’s then up to the observer to formulate an opinion as to whether the fog is good or bad. The funny thing about the nutshell game was that the man performing the trick had the intent to deceive. Not only was he good at it, but the people who were watching him were entertained by the fact and were willing to pay him to do it again and again.
For the faithful Salty Pockets reader, you probably see the lack of subtlety in comparing a harmless nutshell game with the deception of the adversary. Were nutshells the main topic of this post, I would be guilty of being too obvious. But this post is not about nutshells. Rather, my point is to show what the fog is not. Remember that the fog has no intent. It just is. It is merely a condition for us to respond to. Before I leave the subject of nutshells altogether, however, let me just give my opinion about spiritual matters. I think you are nuts if you pay someone to trick you.
Changing circumstances can really make us uncomfortable, particularly when we cannot see clearly. Unless I am careful, it is easy for me to be grumpier when I am not comfortable. I have to be cautious so that I don’t take out my frustrations on others, especially those who are closest to me. During difficult periods of our lives it may be tempting to question God, wondering if he is trying to trick us, or wondering why he doesn’t offer more help when we can’t see clearly. While the fog, of itself, may not have an intent, it helps me to remember that Father in Heaven does. He has a careful plan that works toward that intent and that plan includes a very important veil.
It is a fascinating thought to consider that we are in the middle of eternity. Forever stretches in both directions. While you can’t measure forever, the distance behind us and that which is ahead of us is the same, which places us right in the middle. I may not be able to comprehend eternity, but I can focus on the importance of now. Every decision we make leads to another decision. It is a series of good decisions that will help us get back to our heavenly home.
As a condition of this mortal life, each of us has a veil that is placed over our minds. While we existed as spirits before being born into mortality, our premortal existence is hidden from our view. Reducing our memory of the first half of eternity to what we experience here on this earth affords us the opportunity to be tested on what we feel and not just what we see or know. We have to put our trust in something greater than ourselves, and that something greater is God.
The prophet Mormon taught, “For behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to judge, that ye may know good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain, that ye may know with a perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark night. For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God. … And now, my brethren, seeing that ye know the light by which ye may judge, which light is the light of Christ, see that ye do not judge wrongfully….” (Moroni 7:15-16, 18)
Because the knowledge we gained previously needs to be brought back to our remembrance as we learn from our experience, this veil also blurs our current understanding from time to time and causes us to feel as though we were in a cloudbank or a dense fog. However, when we turn to the Son, and His light becomes strong enough to evaporate the fog, we begin to make sense of things that we may not understand otherwise.
Whether our vision is obstructed so we cannot see, or that we see so clearly the things in front of us that they become obstacles for our faith, vision problems, and learning how to deal with them, are an essential part of life.
Just as change can make us uncomfortable, we are often afraid of what we don’t know. We fear the things we don’t understand. In a spiritual sense, the veil is something we cannot see. Because it is not tangible and is merely an explanation of why we can’t remember, we may be afraid of making decisions with the veil present. This fear can be an unfortunate road block that may impede our mortal progress. It is similar to being surrounded by a cloudbank in the redwoods and then deciding to stop until the marine air clears. Understanding why the Lord refers to this reduction of memory as a veil in the scriptures may give us some insight on how to make better choices.
In the writings of the scriptures, a veil is used to describe a piece of cloth that separates two rooms or spaces. It also refers to an article of clothing that may be worn for various reasons, many times in association with prayer or a marriage. A veil is also used symbolically to describe a covering or a separation of the mind from understanding. In each case, the meaning of the word suggests something temporary that may be easily removed under the appropriate circumstances. Knowing when and how to remove it is very important and worth consideration. But first consider the reasons the veil was used.
Separation
Anciently, the veil of the tabernacle or the temple separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies. The Holy Place contained an altar of incense, a candlestick, and the table of shew bread. Temple workers would perform some of their duties in the Holy Place. The Holy of Holies was the place where the Ark of the Covenant was kept. It was the throne of God. I think it significant that there wasn’t a wall or a door between the two places, but instead a piece of light fabric hung to separate or conceal. What does the Lord intend for us by suggesting such a light separation? It was His desire to have the ancient Israelites enter into His presence as did Moses, but they were not ready. Until such a time that they were ready, the veil was sufficient a separation to help them. (Exodus 26: 31, 33, 35)
Reverence
A veil is often draped over something to show honor or respect for what is beneath. When the camps of Israel were to move, the veil before the Ark of the Covenant was to be taken down and placed over the Ark. The altar of incense, the candlestick, and the table of shewbread were also to be covered. (Numbers 4:5-15) Those who were to carry the holy items were not to touch them lest they were to die. The Lord wished for them to understand that holy things are not to be treated lightly. The practice of covering is used today in worship meetings where the Lord’s sacrament is administered.
Covering
After Rebekah consented to marry Isaac, his servant brought her to him. As she approached and saw him in the distance, she asked the servant, and he confirmed that the man was Isaac. It was then that Rebekah took a veil and covered her face. She did not cover her face as she traveled with the servant, it was only when she was about to meet her husband-to-be that she felt she needed this propriety. (Genesis 24:61-65) While this may only be a custom, it is worth noting when the covering took place. Covering is an act of modesty and defines personal space.
Revealing
It was a Jewish custom at weddings, and still is in other cultures, for a bride to wear a veil as part of her wedding attire. The veil is then removed after the wedding is performed, symbolic of revealing and giving one’s self to a marriage partner. There is a difference between being acquainted with and knowing someone intimately. Lifting the veil is a symbol of removing the separation that keeps two people apart. This is significant in light of the description of separation above and the analogy used by Paul to describe the marriage between the Lord and the Church. (Ephesians 5:21-33)
Shielding
A veil may also be used as clothing to protect the eyes from dirt and dust. In a spiritual sense it may be used to protect us from other worldly things that may pollute things that should be kept clean. It is also possible for that veil which shields the eyes to obscure what we see with our natural eyes so that we focus more on a deeper meaning rather than what is on the surface. In the case of a wedding ceremony, it is suggestive of marrying for inner beauty and not looks that will fade with time.
Each of these examples of a veil can teach us about our relationship with God. There is a sacredness that is not to be taken lightly, and yet the veil is light enough to be removed when we have sanctified our hearts. The Lord intends for each of us to remove this veil at the appropriate time, when we are prepared to meet him, when the Bridegroom returns for the wedding. Until that time when we are ready to present ourselves, we should not be afraid of the veil, or making choices with it present. Instead we need to rely on the Holy Spirit who will teach us all things and bring all things to our remembrance. (John 14:26) We need to consider when we should veil our face in prayer and when we cover other sacred things that we carry with us or wear as an outward expression of an inner commitment to follow the Savior Jesus Christ.
The Lord told Joseph Smith that this veil is often of our own making. “And your minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief, and because you have treated lightly the things you have received – Which vanity and unbelief have brought the whole church under condemnation. And this condemnation resteth upon the children of Zion, even all.” (Doctrine & Covenants 84:54-56) Vanity and unbelief will hinder our progress, just like stopping in the fog. The solution to correct this is to replace our fear with faith.
We demonstrate our faith when we are willing to do hard things. We exercise our faith by acting upon the circumstances that are given to us and making correct choices when we are surrounded by fog. Our faith grows as we gain experience in mortality, by trusting our spirituality, or by following the promptings of the Holy Spirit. When our faith becomes such that we not only believe in Jesus Christ, but we believe Him enough to follow Him through any circumstance, then we are prepared to meet Him. Then we are ready for the wedding where we can rend the veil of unbelief. We do not have to be perfect. We merely have to turn our hearts to Him so that He can show us the way. We only need to find a good place to start and begin.
The prophet Moroni taught us, “Behold, when ye shall rend that veil of unbelief which doth cause you to remain in your awful state of wickedness, and hardness of heart, and blindness of mind, then shall the great and marvelous things which have been hid up from the foundation of the world from you—yea, when ye shall call upon the Father in my name, with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, then shall ye know that the Father hath remembered the covenant which he made unto your fathers, O house of Israel.” (Ether 4:15) The decision to rend the veil of unbelief starts with a prayer and requires a broken heart and a contrite spirit.
Knowing that the veil provided us by a loving Father in Heaven is not meant to be a trick or a deception can help us trust Him more completely that He will help us and He will not lead us astray. He has promised to comfort us, direct us, and inspire us as we close our eyes and listen with our hearts and our minds. It is more important to focus on what we feel and not just what we see and what we know. In a nutshell, it all comes down to faith. If you rely only on your eyes, the great deceiver may yet deceive you again and again. But if we learn to trust in the Lord by using the veil to help us, at least until our faith is sufficiently strong to rend it, we will be prepared for the wedding when the Bridegroom returns. I look forward to that day. In the meantime, I am grateful for my veil.
http://saltypockets.blogspot.com/
You may have seen a similar nutshell game at some point in your life. The person performing the trick attempts to conceal a small ball or object beneath one of three nutshells. The point of the trick is to move the nutshells around so that you loose track of where the ball is. A good performer uses other slight-of-hand tricks to hide the ball. Rather than move the shells quickly, they will conceal the ball in some other way so that even slow moves will confuse the observer as to which shell actually hides the ball.
I carefully watched the panhandler for a while before leaving for my next destination. His game was rather interesting to see. Each time I would note which shell he used to cover the ball. Time after time, I was certain I knew where the ball was. Each time I was wrong, or at least he had a very good way of tricking me because I couldn’t see it. Though he would only perform when someone would pay to see his trick, there were enough people who paid the piper that I could observe without buying into his game. The man’s trick was harmless really, and it generated enough income that he gained some meager subsistence from it.
After leaving the Wharf and the tourist attractions at Pier 39, I went with my family up along the coast of Northern California. The weather and terrain was much different than what I was used to along the southern coasts. Instead of warm sandy beaches and perfectly clear skies, the northern coast had beautiful rock formations that jutted abruptly into the water. They were white from the flocks of oceanic birds that roosted on the tops of the rocks. The steep slopes of the coast were lightly covered in a sea of ferns that disappeared into forests of beautiful redwoods. Everything about the scenery seemed slightly hidden and veiled. And then there was the sky.
The marine layer of the coastal air adds another characteristic to the veiled landscape. Clouds that touch the ground in the form of fog shroud the beauty of the water and the slopes in varying amounts. Sometimes the clouds roll in from the distant horizon of the ocean. Sometimes the fog is so thick and present that you can scarcely see trees that are not far in front of you. Not everyone likes clouds, but I find them very beautiful at times, especially when I can have stretches of clear blue sky in between.
I am especially intrigued by moments of entering. The point at which a low flying cloud approaches the rocks of the coast can be very slow and imperceptible. Often it is as though the sky merely thickens until you realize it isn’t just sky anymore. It is fog also. Things that were once clear are not easily identifiable. Objects you may have recognized just minutes before take on a different appearance and seem less familiar. This can be disconcerting if you are already in a new place or experience. However, if you are on an established road with a good road map, you can take in the view a little more leisurely. The historian John R. Stilgoe said, "Storm makes sense of shelter, and if the shelter is sound, the shelter makes the surrounding storm good...." (Gaston Bachelard, The Poetics of Space, p. viii)
In recalling my memories of that particular trip to California, I noticed a few similarities between the nutshells and the fog. Both tend to move. In both cases, the perception of the experience didn’t change reality. Though the nutshells moved back and forth, the ball never really disappeared. It just wasn’t visible. The same thing could be said of the waves, the rocks, and the forest along the coast. They didn’t vanish from existence temporarily, but their appearance was hidden. If there was one difference that stood out to me between the shells and the fog, it was the intent behind the things that were hidden. The fog had no intent, it was just there. It’s then up to the observer to formulate an opinion as to whether the fog is good or bad. The funny thing about the nutshell game was that the man performing the trick had the intent to deceive. Not only was he good at it, but the people who were watching him were entertained by the fact and were willing to pay him to do it again and again.
For the faithful Salty Pockets reader, you probably see the lack of subtlety in comparing a harmless nutshell game with the deception of the adversary. Were nutshells the main topic of this post, I would be guilty of being too obvious. But this post is not about nutshells. Rather, my point is to show what the fog is not. Remember that the fog has no intent. It just is. It is merely a condition for us to respond to. Before I leave the subject of nutshells altogether, however, let me just give my opinion about spiritual matters. I think you are nuts if you pay someone to trick you.
Changing circumstances can really make us uncomfortable, particularly when we cannot see clearly. Unless I am careful, it is easy for me to be grumpier when I am not comfortable. I have to be cautious so that I don’t take out my frustrations on others, especially those who are closest to me. During difficult periods of our lives it may be tempting to question God, wondering if he is trying to trick us, or wondering why he doesn’t offer more help when we can’t see clearly. While the fog, of itself, may not have an intent, it helps me to remember that Father in Heaven does. He has a careful plan that works toward that intent and that plan includes a very important veil.
It is a fascinating thought to consider that we are in the middle of eternity. Forever stretches in both directions. While you can’t measure forever, the distance behind us and that which is ahead of us is the same, which places us right in the middle. I may not be able to comprehend eternity, but I can focus on the importance of now. Every decision we make leads to another decision. It is a series of good decisions that will help us get back to our heavenly home.
As a condition of this mortal life, each of us has a veil that is placed over our minds. While we existed as spirits before being born into mortality, our premortal existence is hidden from our view. Reducing our memory of the first half of eternity to what we experience here on this earth affords us the opportunity to be tested on what we feel and not just what we see or know. We have to put our trust in something greater than ourselves, and that something greater is God.
The prophet Mormon taught, “For behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to judge, that ye may know good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain, that ye may know with a perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark night. For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God. … And now, my brethren, seeing that ye know the light by which ye may judge, which light is the light of Christ, see that ye do not judge wrongfully….” (Moroni 7:15-16, 18)
Because the knowledge we gained previously needs to be brought back to our remembrance as we learn from our experience, this veil also blurs our current understanding from time to time and causes us to feel as though we were in a cloudbank or a dense fog. However, when we turn to the Son, and His light becomes strong enough to evaporate the fog, we begin to make sense of things that we may not understand otherwise.
Whether our vision is obstructed so we cannot see, or that we see so clearly the things in front of us that they become obstacles for our faith, vision problems, and learning how to deal with them, are an essential part of life.
Just as change can make us uncomfortable, we are often afraid of what we don’t know. We fear the things we don’t understand. In a spiritual sense, the veil is something we cannot see. Because it is not tangible and is merely an explanation of why we can’t remember, we may be afraid of making decisions with the veil present. This fear can be an unfortunate road block that may impede our mortal progress. It is similar to being surrounded by a cloudbank in the redwoods and then deciding to stop until the marine air clears. Understanding why the Lord refers to this reduction of memory as a veil in the scriptures may give us some insight on how to make better choices.
In the writings of the scriptures, a veil is used to describe a piece of cloth that separates two rooms or spaces. It also refers to an article of clothing that may be worn for various reasons, many times in association with prayer or a marriage. A veil is also used symbolically to describe a covering or a separation of the mind from understanding. In each case, the meaning of the word suggests something temporary that may be easily removed under the appropriate circumstances. Knowing when and how to remove it is very important and worth consideration. But first consider the reasons the veil was used.
Separation
Anciently, the veil of the tabernacle or the temple separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies. The Holy Place contained an altar of incense, a candlestick, and the table of shew bread. Temple workers would perform some of their duties in the Holy Place. The Holy of Holies was the place where the Ark of the Covenant was kept. It was the throne of God. I think it significant that there wasn’t a wall or a door between the two places, but instead a piece of light fabric hung to separate or conceal. What does the Lord intend for us by suggesting such a light separation? It was His desire to have the ancient Israelites enter into His presence as did Moses, but they were not ready. Until such a time that they were ready, the veil was sufficient a separation to help them. (Exodus 26: 31, 33, 35)
Reverence
A veil is often draped over something to show honor or respect for what is beneath. When the camps of Israel were to move, the veil before the Ark of the Covenant was to be taken down and placed over the Ark. The altar of incense, the candlestick, and the table of shewbread were also to be covered. (Numbers 4:5-15) Those who were to carry the holy items were not to touch them lest they were to die. The Lord wished for them to understand that holy things are not to be treated lightly. The practice of covering is used today in worship meetings where the Lord’s sacrament is administered.
Covering
After Rebekah consented to marry Isaac, his servant brought her to him. As she approached and saw him in the distance, she asked the servant, and he confirmed that the man was Isaac. It was then that Rebekah took a veil and covered her face. She did not cover her face as she traveled with the servant, it was only when she was about to meet her husband-to-be that she felt she needed this propriety. (Genesis 24:61-65) While this may only be a custom, it is worth noting when the covering took place. Covering is an act of modesty and defines personal space.
Revealing
It was a Jewish custom at weddings, and still is in other cultures, for a bride to wear a veil as part of her wedding attire. The veil is then removed after the wedding is performed, symbolic of revealing and giving one’s self to a marriage partner. There is a difference between being acquainted with and knowing someone intimately. Lifting the veil is a symbol of removing the separation that keeps two people apart. This is significant in light of the description of separation above and the analogy used by Paul to describe the marriage between the Lord and the Church. (Ephesians 5:21-33)
Shielding
A veil may also be used as clothing to protect the eyes from dirt and dust. In a spiritual sense it may be used to protect us from other worldly things that may pollute things that should be kept clean. It is also possible for that veil which shields the eyes to obscure what we see with our natural eyes so that we focus more on a deeper meaning rather than what is on the surface. In the case of a wedding ceremony, it is suggestive of marrying for inner beauty and not looks that will fade with time.
Each of these examples of a veil can teach us about our relationship with God. There is a sacredness that is not to be taken lightly, and yet the veil is light enough to be removed when we have sanctified our hearts. The Lord intends for each of us to remove this veil at the appropriate time, when we are prepared to meet him, when the Bridegroom returns for the wedding. Until that time when we are ready to present ourselves, we should not be afraid of the veil, or making choices with it present. Instead we need to rely on the Holy Spirit who will teach us all things and bring all things to our remembrance. (John 14:26) We need to consider when we should veil our face in prayer and when we cover other sacred things that we carry with us or wear as an outward expression of an inner commitment to follow the Savior Jesus Christ.
The Lord told Joseph Smith that this veil is often of our own making. “And your minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief, and because you have treated lightly the things you have received – Which vanity and unbelief have brought the whole church under condemnation. And this condemnation resteth upon the children of Zion, even all.” (Doctrine & Covenants 84:54-56) Vanity and unbelief will hinder our progress, just like stopping in the fog. The solution to correct this is to replace our fear with faith.
We demonstrate our faith when we are willing to do hard things. We exercise our faith by acting upon the circumstances that are given to us and making correct choices when we are surrounded by fog. Our faith grows as we gain experience in mortality, by trusting our spirituality, or by following the promptings of the Holy Spirit. When our faith becomes such that we not only believe in Jesus Christ, but we believe Him enough to follow Him through any circumstance, then we are prepared to meet Him. Then we are ready for the wedding where we can rend the veil of unbelief. We do not have to be perfect. We merely have to turn our hearts to Him so that He can show us the way. We only need to find a good place to start and begin.
The prophet Moroni taught us, “Behold, when ye shall rend that veil of unbelief which doth cause you to remain in your awful state of wickedness, and hardness of heart, and blindness of mind, then shall the great and marvelous things which have been hid up from the foundation of the world from you—yea, when ye shall call upon the Father in my name, with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, then shall ye know that the Father hath remembered the covenant which he made unto your fathers, O house of Israel.” (Ether 4:15) The decision to rend the veil of unbelief starts with a prayer and requires a broken heart and a contrite spirit.
Knowing that the veil provided us by a loving Father in Heaven is not meant to be a trick or a deception can help us trust Him more completely that He will help us and He will not lead us astray. He has promised to comfort us, direct us, and inspire us as we close our eyes and listen with our hearts and our minds. It is more important to focus on what we feel and not just what we see and what we know. In a nutshell, it all comes down to faith. If you rely only on your eyes, the great deceiver may yet deceive you again and again. But if we learn to trust in the Lord by using the veil to help us, at least until our faith is sufficiently strong to rend it, we will be prepared for the wedding when the Bridegroom returns. I look forward to that day. In the meantime, I am grateful for my veil.
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