 |
| "This stone, currently possessed by The Smithsonian, was discovered in the ancient Mesoamerican city of Izapa, in 1941, by archaeologist Matthew W. Stirling. The stone carving has been dated to the Preclassic Guillen Phase between 300 BC and 50 AD....it's hard to ignore the striking similarity it has to Lehi's dream of the "Tree of Life" found in 1 Nephi chapter 8. The tree of life, the people eating fruit, and other resemblances to the account of Lehi's dream, coupled with the location it was found, and it being dated dead on to the Book of Mormon timetable, makes this an intriguing evidence of Book of Mormon authenticity. But like all faith evidences, this won't make people believe who don't already." Moroni's Latter-Day Saint Page |
Every time I go to a big city, I can understand Lehi's statement, “numberless concourses of people.” I'm not sure how it happened. I suppose moving to a small town and enjoying the lack of city contention did it. But big crowds are not for me anymore.The people Lehi saw become four groups by their choices 'in seeking the tree and the fruit'. The first group liked the path holding the rod but loosened their grip and were lost in the mist. Next, similar to the first group, they started out on the path and reached the tree. But as they partook of the fruit, they looked back at the mockers, dropped the fruit, and left. Then there were those that like the first two groups started out on the path. They reached, partook of the fruit, and remained to feast upon the fruit. The last group never made it to the path at all but were enticed toward the great and spacious building.
We can clearly see these groups of people in the world today. I think the most tragic are the ones who never even give the love of God any attention at all in the last group. They begin life in a worldly way and never break loose from this temptation. Others that start out wanting to know Jesus and feel the love of His atonement get distracted by good but eternally unimportant things. They loose sight of their goals and let go of the Word of God. Some righteous individuals, who seems so stalwart and good, get mixed up and pay head to the worldly taunting of the mockers. They turn their backs on the Lord and fall away. Then there are the steadfast few, who make it to the tree and never give a second thought to worldliness.
When letting go of the iron rod or leaving the tree of life, people move to “forbidden,” “strange,” or “broad” roads. Such roads are the adversary's temptations, which make them blind to the blessings of God and hard toward His promptings. Good news is here! It is possible to return to the strait and narrow path, to return to the tree of life and the loving embrace of the Savior until the death.
Nevertheless, it is better to stay on the strait and narrow path, to stay under the wings of the hen. Reaching out to others in love and fellowship, we can help others enter or stay on the path. We can help others and ourselves disregard the temptations of the broad way.
My friend Caryn shared this the other day, which fits this idea very well. After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park, forest rangers began their trek up a mountain to assess the inferno's damage. One ranger found a bird literally petrified in ashes, perched statuesquely on the ground at the base of a tree. Somewhat sickened by the eerie sight, he knocked over the bird with a stick. When he gently struck it, three tiny chicks scurried from under their dead mother's wings. The loving mother, keenly aware of impending disaster, had carried her offspring to the base of the tree and had gathered them under her wings, instinctively, knowing that the toxic smoke would rise. She could have flown to safety but refused to abandon her babies. Then the blaze arrived and the heat scorched her small body, the mother remained steadfast . . . because she was willing to die, so those under the cover of her wings would live. 'He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge.'
Sometimes we are the instruments, which God uses to give refuge to his children. We may be needed to comfort the weary or bear one another's burdens as a direct answer to a prayer.
