I think the experience of the brother of Jared in Ether 2 & 3 is one of the greatest examples of problem solving we can find in the scriptures. He had just completed the construction of eight barges "according to the instructions of the Lord" (Ether 2:16) and now had three problems to take to the Lord (Ether 2:19).
1. There is no light.
2. How will we steer?
3. We won't be able to breathe.
Notice the Lord's answers. In verse 20, He instructs TBOJ to make a hole in the top and bottom of each vessel. When they need air, they simply unplug the top hole (I find it very amusing that he was told to plug it again if water started coming in). I assume they knew what to do with the hole in the bottom, because it isn't explained. Problem #3 solved, they now have a way to get air.
In verse 24, the Lord explains that the barges will be driven as a "whale in the midst of the sea". Problem #2 solved, the Lord will be doing the steering.
Which brings us back to problem #1; what do we do about getting light into the barges? The Lord asks him, "What will ye that I should do that ye may have light in your vessels?" (vs. 23). Having light was obviously a worthy objective, the Lord didn't say they had to go in the dark. He had already shown TBOJ how the other two problems would be resolved, but now He asks for his input. He instructs TBOJ that they can't have windows because they'd get broken, and they can't use fire. So the only two man-made sources of light available had just been ruled out.
So, what did he do? He went to a mountain known for its "exceeding height" (Ether 3:1) and moltened out 16 small, clear stones and carried them to the top of the mountain before asking the Lord to touch them. He reasoned that if the Lord touched the stones, "they [would] shine forth... in the vessels... that we may have light" (Ether 3:5). TBOJ's faith is so strong, he is permitted to see Christ's finger as He touches the stones. The vision that follows is a topic for another discussion. I want to focus on the decision-making process at work here and what we can apply to our own lives.
1. TBOJ had questions and discussed them with the Lord in prayer. How many of our concerns and problems would be resolved if we would first pray about them?
2. Realize that the answer isn't always going to be handed to us. It is interesting to me that God answered the last two problems, but not the first. He could very well have asked, "What do you think you should do in order to get air inside the vessels?" Elder Richard G. Scott taught in October 1989 General Conference:
"When we explain a problem and a proposed solution, sometimes He answers yes, sometimes no. Often He withholds an answer, not for lack of concern, but because He loves us—perfectly. He wants us to apply truths He has given us. For us to grow, we need to trust our ability to make correct decisions. We need to do what we feel is right. In time, He will answer. He will not fail us."
As He did with TBOJ, the Lord gives us clear guidelines which we can use to form our decisions. He tells us what is and isn't acceptable (ie. 'you can't use windows or fire') and leaves us to our agency. What would TBOJ have missed if the Lord had just handed him 16 glowing rocks? What would we have missed?
3. Go to the "mountain of the Lord" (Isaiah 2:3) when you need divine direction. TBOJ went to the top of an exceedingly high mountain to talk with the Lord and receive needed assistance. The temple is a house of learning where the Holy Ghost can be poured out more abundantly. To make things even more interesting, TBOJ took the stones he obtained at the base of the mountain with him to the top of the mountain.
What if you can't go to the temple? We have been taught that our homes should be second only to the temple in holiness.
"In addition to temples, surely another holy place on earth ought to be our homes. The feelings of holiness in my home prepared me for feelings of holiness in the temple." (Elder James E. Faust, “Standing in Holy Places,” Ensign, May 2005, 62)
So, this scriptural experience gives us keys to handling decisions in our own lives; pray, put in your own effort, and go to the temple.
1. There is no light.
2. How will we steer?
3. We won't be able to breathe.
Notice the Lord's answers. In verse 20, He instructs TBOJ to make a hole in the top and bottom of each vessel. When they need air, they simply unplug the top hole (I find it very amusing that he was told to plug it again if water started coming in). I assume they knew what to do with the hole in the bottom, because it isn't explained. Problem #3 solved, they now have a way to get air.
In verse 24, the Lord explains that the barges will be driven as a "whale in the midst of the sea". Problem #2 solved, the Lord will be doing the steering.
Which brings us back to problem #1; what do we do about getting light into the barges? The Lord asks him, "What will ye that I should do that ye may have light in your vessels?" (vs. 23). Having light was obviously a worthy objective, the Lord didn't say they had to go in the dark. He had already shown TBOJ how the other two problems would be resolved, but now He asks for his input. He instructs TBOJ that they can't have windows because they'd get broken, and they can't use fire. So the only two man-made sources of light available had just been ruled out.
So, what did he do? He went to a mountain known for its "exceeding height" (Ether 3:1) and moltened out 16 small, clear stones and carried them to the top of the mountain before asking the Lord to touch them. He reasoned that if the Lord touched the stones, "they [would] shine forth... in the vessels... that we may have light" (Ether 3:5). TBOJ's faith is so strong, he is permitted to see Christ's finger as He touches the stones. The vision that follows is a topic for another discussion. I want to focus on the decision-making process at work here and what we can apply to our own lives.
1. TBOJ had questions and discussed them with the Lord in prayer. How many of our concerns and problems would be resolved if we would first pray about them?
2. Realize that the answer isn't always going to be handed to us. It is interesting to me that God answered the last two problems, but not the first. He could very well have asked, "What do you think you should do in order to get air inside the vessels?" Elder Richard G. Scott taught in October 1989 General Conference:
"When we explain a problem and a proposed solution, sometimes He answers yes, sometimes no. Often He withholds an answer, not for lack of concern, but because He loves us—perfectly. He wants us to apply truths He has given us. For us to grow, we need to trust our ability to make correct decisions. We need to do what we feel is right. In time, He will answer. He will not fail us."
As He did with TBOJ, the Lord gives us clear guidelines which we can use to form our decisions. He tells us what is and isn't acceptable (ie. 'you can't use windows or fire') and leaves us to our agency. What would TBOJ have missed if the Lord had just handed him 16 glowing rocks? What would we have missed?
3. Go to the "mountain of the Lord" (Isaiah 2:3) when you need divine direction. TBOJ went to the top of an exceedingly high mountain to talk with the Lord and receive needed assistance. The temple is a house of learning where the Holy Ghost can be poured out more abundantly. To make things even more interesting, TBOJ took the stones he obtained at the base of the mountain with him to the top of the mountain.
What if you can't go to the temple? We have been taught that our homes should be second only to the temple in holiness.
"In addition to temples, surely another holy place on earth ought to be our homes. The feelings of holiness in my home prepared me for feelings of holiness in the temple." (Elder James E. Faust, “Standing in Holy Places,” Ensign, May 2005, 62)
So, this scriptural experience gives us keys to handling decisions in our own lives; pray, put in your own effort, and go to the temple.
2 comments:
Thanks for the insight, Gary.
Now that I am back into "main stream" I love having this to check on before I head into class ... makes me sound like I have so many more thoughts about the lesson than I really do ...
Is that cheating?
very cool. i hadn't come across the thought by james e faust before. Thanks for that. Please write more....!!
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