"Study to learn how to respect your brothers and sisters"
On the first page of the Book of Mormon, you have Lehi praying "with all his heart" on behalf of the wicked people at Jerusalem. A pillar of fire appears before him, where he then sees and hears "much". He goes home after this experience, lays down, and, being filled with the Spirit because of the things he had seen, is caught up to the throne of God. Because of some things that happen while being caught up, he declares:
"Great and marvelous are thy works, O Lord God Almighty! Thy throne is high in the heavens, and thy power, and goodness, and mercy are over all the inhabitants of the earth; and, because thou art merciful, thou wilt not suffer those who come unto thee that they shall perish!"
This rhetoric is common enough throughout scripture that it is largely ignored. But look closely here. What is being said? Whatever Lehi saw, it caused him to realize that God's works are "great and marvelous" making Him "Almighty". To further emphasize God's lofty position, Lehi declares that "[His] throne is high in the heavens".
Think about that for a minute. Who is the most powerful person on Earth? What effect do they have? What are their works? How far is their influence spread? How do they act? How do they view themselves? How do they treat others?
Compare that person with this being who has a position "high in the heavens". The "heavens" is a big place. If you look at our galaxy alone, you'll find that there are BILLIONS of stars and planets. An example is in RE Genesis 4 when Enoch, while in the presence of God, states:
"[...]were it possible that man could number the particles of the earth, yea, and millions of earths like this, it would not be a beginning to the number of thy creations[...]"
High in the heavens indeed... whatever power we think we have here is small potatoes compared with this God who is Almighty.
Then, Lehi shows us that these observances are only preliminary information for the message he wants to convey about the being he is praising. He says:
"[...]thy power, and goodness, and mercy are over all the inhabitants of the earth[...]"
What a humbling realization. Consider this particular earth on which we live. In that same chapter in Genesis that is referenced above, in response to comments by Enoch, the Lord responds by saying,
"[...]among all the workmanship of my hands there has not been so great wickedness as among thy brethren[...]"(RE Genesis 4)
We live on the most wicked planet of any that this great God has created, and Lehi is telling us that God still has mercy on "all the inhabitants" and that His "goodness and power are over [us]".
"[...]were it possible that man could number the particles of the earth, yea, and millions of earths like this, it would not be a beginning to the number of thy creations[...]"
High in the heavens indeed... whatever power we think we have here is small potatoes compared with this God who is Almighty.
Then, Lehi shows us that these observances are only preliminary information for the message he wants to convey about the being he is praising. He says:
"[...]thy power, and goodness, and mercy are over all the inhabitants of the earth[...]"
What a humbling realization. Consider this particular earth on which we live. In that same chapter in Genesis that is referenced above, in response to comments by Enoch, the Lord responds by saying,
"[...]among all the workmanship of my hands there has not been so great wickedness as among thy brethren[...]"(RE Genesis 4)
We live on the most wicked planet of any that this great God has created, and Lehi is telling us that God still has mercy on "all the inhabitants" and that His "goodness and power are over [us]".
Who among us has such love as this? We are left without excuse. We have no reason to not be good, merciful, and loving toward one another in our tiny spheres of influence.
No comments:
Post a Comment