If the brother of Jared followed God’s instructions without question, he and his people may have likely suffocated in the dark shortly into their journey in air-tight barges.
The brother of Jared’s sincere questioning opened up solutions and led to a great revelation that not only benefited him personally but became sacred scripture.
And it came to pass that the Lord did go before them, and did talk with them as he stood in a cloud, and gave directions whither they should travel. And it came to pass that they did travel in the wilderness, and did build barges, in which they did cross many waters, being directed continually by the hand of the Lord.
Ether 2:5-6
God gave continual directions that were carried out by the people that included the building of barges.
At length, they arrive at “that great sea which divideth the lands” (vs.13) where they settle for 4 years. They are commanded to build barges once again, similar to what they had previously built “according to the instructions of the Lord.” (vs.16)
How similar these new barges were to the previous ones build is unknown, but it does appear that the brother of Jared began to realize that there would be serious problems if they tried to use these barges to cross the massive body of water before them.
The brother of Jared notices that there were three key issues the Lord’s instructions did not appear to address: steering, breathable air, and light.
It seems that God already expected to drive the barges by the wind, that the people would not need to steer them. When asked about the air, the Lord offers a solution that involved two strategically placed holes that would allow for airflow when needed but could be sealed if necessary.
As for light, the Lord points out that fire or windows were out of the question and, rather than offering more instructions, asks the question, “What will ye that I should do that ye may have light in your vessels.” (vs.23)
The Lord could have simply instructed them to create sailing ships like he did with Nephi, but for his own reasons, the Lord required these unique barges for this particular group of people.
The Lord’s question appears to indicate that the solution must come from a divine source and that it is not within the brother of Jared’s mortal power to handle this particular solution to the problem.
This exchange between the Lord and the brother of Jared reveals some important insights as to how the Lord works with us. It appears that he may give instructions that are initially incomplete.
To really flesh out the whole plan, we must inquire, and faithfully question the Lord’s designs when we get stuck. If we look at the patterns from this account it seems that solutions could come in at least three forms:
- A newly revealed piece of instruction that solves a problem. (Make two holes in the barge)
- Further light on the overall plan that was not initially comprehended. (The barges will not need someone to steer them)
- An unprecedented divine solution outside the power of human effort. (Stones lit by divine means)
Whatever form the instructions of God come to us, scripture, personal revelation, or through his servants, we may want to consider that if something the Lord asks of us seems incomplete or impossible, that the solutions may be found through inquiry and come in varied forms.
By studying the scripture accounts and pondering the patterns we find there, we can better understand how we too can engage in God’s work in our day and carry out his instructions.
2 Comments
Yup. I have come to a very similar conclusion that you have about the Gift of the Holy Ghost. Not only is the idea of “constant companionship” only mentioned once in scripture, but that verse or verses in section 121 are clearly speaking of a future day. It speaks of our confidence in the presence of God, our wielding a scepter of righteousness and truth, an everlasting dominion, and power and dominion flowing unto us without compulsion. Now I don’t know about you but even those who claim to have been “born of God” would balk at the assertion that these phrases at the end of section 121 are a description of them.
So yes, I too believe there is a lot left to do in regard to teaching what the gift of the Holy Ghost is. I am convinced that I and almost all of us were taught incorrectly what the Gift of the Holy Ghost even is. So many of us equate the gift of the Holy Ghost with finding our keys or avoiding danger on the highway. If that is the gift of the Holy Ghost then the gift of the Holy Ghost is being bestowed upon evangelicals, Catholics, Muslims, Jews and atheists alike. Because those faith promoting stories of God’s grace are ubiquitous within them all. Not to mention the connection of the Gift of the Holy Ghost with the Doctrine of Christ. First we have Faith in Jesus Christ, second…Repentance, third….Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins and fourth…finding our keys? When you put it this way it really highlights the silliness and misguided way the Gift of the Holy Ghost has been taught to us. You did a great job outlining how masterful the Book of Mormon is in teaching us the clues as to what the Gift of the Holy Ghost is. I say clues because the more I have studied the Gift of the Holy Ghost, Baptism of Fire, Born Again, etc. the more I am convinced that this is where God wants to teach us personally. Even the Book of Mormon as clear as it is doesn’t just come out and tell us everything we need to know or exactly what the Gift of the Holy Ghost is. I believe this topic is a frontier for teaching and I believe it will be taught better and with more truth just like how we have seen other topics that are being taught more correctly. For example, grace, charity, atonement, the purpose of obedience are some examples of topics that I see as receiving divine clarification by apostles and other leaders. However, even recently I have seen apostles equate the Gift of the Holy Ghost with “finding keys” so to speak. So we aren’t there yet but I believe we will get there.
As to your point about the baptism of fire being unmistakable…I noticed you left out the words of the Savior in 3 Nephi 9:20 about the baptism of fire and the Lamanites not knowing they had received the baptism of fire. How does this play into your take on the baptism of fire being unmistakable?
Thanks for your post. Love it.
Appreciate your words Joel, you said some great things and I was especially amused with your swapping of “finding keys” with the Gift of the Holy Ghost following the baptism for the remission of sins. Nice way to make the point.
I agree that we can do better, but I think we teach to the level of our understanding and unfortunately there are likely many that have not experienced the things they claim to be teaching or else they would teach differently. Doesn’t mean that there aren’t good and faithful people, it just means we are living far beneath our abilities when it comes to our relationship with God and his teachings. We have a form of godliness.
I’m glad you asked me about the baptism of fire and the Lamanites in 3 Nephi 9:20. Let’s look at the verse in question that features the language you are asking about:
“And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost, even as the Lamanites, because of their faith in me at the time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not”
The words “they knew it not” carries some implications depending on how you read it. One way to read it is the way you appear to be, that they were baptized by fire and the Holy Ghost but didn’t know that it had happened. This way of reading it could lead one to think that a baptism of fire could be so subtle that it would be practically unrecognizable.
I reject that reading and I’ll explain why.
We also don’t know the specific Lamanites Jesus is talking about. It could be the ones that were encircled by fire in Helaman 5 and who were guided by Aminadab to understand what they were experiencing. Not only were they were encircled by a flaming fire, they were filled with joy and glory. The Holy Spirit came down and entered into their hearts and they were fill as if with fire and were able to speak marvelous words. A voice also came to them and spoke peace while the heavens opened and angels came down. If these were the Lamanites Jesus was talking about, does it sound like something subtle that they didn’t realize had happened? Nope.
But at the time, they had no idea what was going on, they were confused and needed guidance to understand what was happening.
To that point, there was something I experienced with another person who received a baptism of fire in my presence. That is one of my personal favorites for a number of reasons.
The full details would make more sense, but the short of it was that he was indeed wrought upon in a profound way that was overwhelming to him and he asked, “What is happening to me?” Because I recognized what was going on, I turned to the scriptures with him and explained because when it came to the things of God and the Gift of the Holy Ghost, he “knew it not.”
For this reason I believe that the Lamanites were baptized with fire and experienced the effects of it but they did not know what it was, it was a new experience. I also believe that they were subsequently taught later on what it was. It is possible to receive the gifts of God, experience them, but also lack the knowledge to understand what they all truly are and mean because they are new to us and we may be unfamiliar with the workings of the Lord.
I simply do not believe that a person can be present in the glory of God with his pure love flowing into their being while being told that they are clean and a redeemed and somehow not be aware of it. I do think that a person new to all of it could be overwhelmed and not understand what had happened to them.
In this sense, “they knew it not” at the time, but not for long.