Ether part 2

Jared and his people, being blessed by God to inherit a promised land, traveled for such a long time across the ocean, 344 days. During their travels might they have thought that it was such a long time to wait upon God? Might there have been a time when some began to lose hope, and begin to question whether they had made the right choice? We are not told of any such complaints, and I think that because of the constant reminders around them, the miraculous light that was provided, the complete reliance on God for movement and navigation, they sang praises to the Lord and expressed gratitude unceasingly. Are their times when we must also wait for a promised blessing? How long must you wait upon God? We can learn from the example of this people, how to maintain our faith in the journey. What constant reminders do you have of the power of God? Do you also sing his praises and express gratitude unceasingly? These things are necessary, lest we forget the promises we have been given.

Gratitude is the subject of special consideration during this Thanksgiving holiday. President Nelson has recently offered a reminder of the power that gratitude can have in our lives. He has said that we may experience “the healing power of gratitude”, couldn’t we all use more healing power? We often become so focused on our problems in the moment, riding the emotional rollercoaster of popular culture and the sensationalist news cycle, that it becomes easy to forget the miraculous blessings that we have received. We may forget that even in a global pandemic the good conditions can outweigh the bad. Hearing from the perspective of someone who has lived over 90 years may give us reason to hope. One who has seen the Great Depression, many wars, the rise of terrorism, the death of a spouse and children and other events that might give anyone a reason to despair the plight of mortal life. We should also recognize that the global pandemic is not even the worst problem we are facing as a global society. Yet despite the bad, there is also so much good to show gratitude for, the advancements in technology that allow us to travel, explore outer space, preserve life and chiefly, spread the gospel throughout the earth. There are so many things to be grateful for, and expressing it is a way to receive it’s healing power. For the people of Jared expressing gratitude preserved their hope for the promised land, and their faith on God who lead them to it.

The story of the people of Jared, is another example of the blessings that come from obedience, and the consequences that come from forgetting. Forgetting to express gratitude, forgetting upon who we rely for salvation, forgetting how they were granted the blessed land they has inherited. It is a story that parallels many others, the Nephites and even the Israelites. Each of these three groups were lead to a promised land. When they were obedient and kept the commandments of God, no enemy could overcome them. When they ceased to show gratitude, and left the covenant path, they were destroyed. Departing the path often comes in subtle ways.

Where does the desire to have a king come from? Why was this the thing that the people wanted? And why did this desire grieve the brother of Jarod and cause him to say, “Surely this thing leadeth into captivity.” Reading their record makes it clear, but we also have examples in the Israelites and Nephites of the great evil that can come when an unrighteous leader is granted so much power over their people. This is why king Mosiah declared that the Nephites should no longer have a king (Mosiah 29). And previously Nephi, “was desirous that they should have no king.” The desire for a king comes when we forget the King of Kings. When we leave the person who has spiritually begotten us (Mosiah 5:7). We desire a king when we do not take personal responsibility, when we cease to live faithfully, putting our trust in man rather than God. For these reasons the brother of Jarod was grieved over this desire. In our own lives there may be other types of kings to which we impart power. Let it also be a warning to us of the evil that comes when we continue down that path.

What hope do we have for a better world? And how might that hope bring it about? Ether taught that, “whoso believeth in God might with a surety hope for a better world” (Ether 12:4). For me hope is a humble beginning. Hope is where we can start, when we say “I hope this is true, I hope that by keeping the commandments that I will received the promised blessing.” Hope is the desire, faith is the action. Hope becomes faith and faith imparts greater hope and they are both sustained by humble gratitude. These things are an anchor in our lives. This anchor keeps us from being swept up in popular sensationalism, it keeps us from the emotional rollercoaster that would have us turning in so many different directions that it becomes impossible to progress toward that which we want the most. Faith and hope sustain us when we are oppressed by such troubling circumstances. In fact it is those troubling circumstances and our weaknesses that allow us to develop even greater hope and faith. “And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.“ (Ether 12:27) We may sometimes curse our weaknesses, wish that they would be taken from us, wish to have never lived through them, but our weaknesses can make us humble, not sin unless followed by repentance, but imperfections in our minds and bodies. These mortal conditions can become a blessing to us, by bringing us “down to the dust” (Alma 42:30). Giving us the perspective we need to reach up to God for help, relying on him for salvation. Without our weaknesses we might become boastful, filled with pride, relying on our own merits instead of God, which leads to the same end as the people of Jared.

President Nelson has prescribed two activities to help us begin to exercise gratitude, and begin to receive its healing power. They are very similar to the way the people of Jared showed gratitude, by singing praises to the Lord, and through this were preserved in their trials and reached the promised land.