Today I read Ether 2, where the Jaredites travel through the wilderness and arrive at the land of Moriancumer and live there for 4 years. I think the thing that surprises me the most about them living there for 4 years is they lived in tents that entire time. You would think it they were going to live there for so long they would have made more permanent dwellings. And perhaps they did, but that is not what we were led to believe.
We are also led to believe that the brother of Jared while living in this land of Moriancumer for 4 years did not pray. We do know that he did not pray for a long time, but we are not specifically told that it was for 4 years. It was however long enough that the Lord came and visited him and spoke with him for the space of 3 hours. I think it is interesting that we are told exactly how long Mahonri spoke with the Lord. Also during this visit from the Lord, He chastened the brother of Jared for not praying for such a long time. I do not think He chastened the brother of Jared for the entire 3 hours as some would suppose. I think he was chastened and then he received instructions from the Lord.
Of course the most famous part of this chapter that everyone thinks of is the barges and Mahonri's conundrum with how to get air and light into his vessels. There is going to be so much to talk about in tomorrow's post so I will discuss a little bit more here than I normally would about this incident. As anyone who has ever read the Book of Mormon will recall, the brother of Jared was asked to build 8 barges for his people, their provisions and their animals. The ships were literally air tight and no light or air could get in. The question of what to do about the air was simple enough. But the question about what to do about light the Lord posed right back to the brother of Jared.
Now, the Lord could easily have produced a workable solution, but He wanted Mahonri to come up with a solution. Why is that? It is my belief it was because that is the proper order of things when supplicating the Lord. We learn in D&C 9:7 that the Lord wants us to do more than just ask Him when we want to know things. The proper order of things is to research the problem, come up with a solution that we think is best, and then come to the Lord with our answer and see if it is correct.
So I think the Lord wanted the brother of Jared to search out the solution to his problem on his own and ask the Lord if it be right. I think the Lord also wanted Mahonri to use his faith. The Lord knew what solution he would come back with. He knew that Mahonri would exercise such faith that he would see the finger of the Lord. But the brother of Jared had to exercise that faith first! The Lord was not going to just come out and give him such a wonderful gift as he was given.
It is the same for us. If we go to the Lord with a problem we have, He may give us an answer to the issue. He may do it because He loves us and wants to help us. But He much more prefers to have us come to Him, present the issue and our proposed plan and ask if it is acceptable to Him. Think about it, isn't that the way your boss, professor or parent would prefer you come to them with a problem too? Of course it is.
When we are forced to come up with an answer on our own, it causes us to grow. Very little, if any, growth is achieved when you are spoon fed ideas and answers. Children can learn that way, too a point, but really people remember things better when they look up answers themselves. The Lord or course knows this and that is why He asks us to seek out the answer on our own. It is the way we will grow the most. It is so important a lesson to learn that at times if we just come to the Lord without a solution in mind, He will not answer, or His answer will be to come back when we have thought it out like he did to the brother of Jared. Those are opportunities for growth that should not be shunned. Take advantage of them and you will be pleased with the results. Until tomorrow.
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