I'm so grateful for the scriptures. Since I decided to start writing, I have really been able to pick out things that I otherwise wouldn't have noticed, and correlate them with my life. When reading today, I found a superb example of how a good parent or teacher would act while disciplining their children.
The Lamanites and Nephites had all become pretty wicked and self-centered. In fact, Nephi (Helaman's son), who was the chief judge during this time, couldn't take the constant iniquity and gave up the judgment seat. As much as I want to throw in the towel as a mom sometimes and just let the kids raise themselves, this isn't the parenting example that I'm talking about. Nephi decided that he would be more useful preaching to the people of Christ's impending birth and ministry, so he and his brother Lehi decided to commit the remainder of their lives to missionary work. They had a tremendous impact in the first few cities that they visited - baptizing eight thousand Lamanites in and around the land of Zarahemla alone. When they reached the land of Nephi, however, they were immediately cast into prison.
And after they had been cast into prison many days without food, behold, they went forth into the prison to take them that they might slay them.(Helaman 5:22)
Nephi and Lehi were protected by the power of God - "encircled about as if by fire". Their captors became very afraid, and "stood as if they were struck dumb with amazement". Nephi and Lehi told them to "fear not", because it was only God showing them that they could not be touched. Then the scriptures say that the earth shook powerfully, and they were overshadowed with a cloud of darkness.
And it came to pass that there came a voice as if it were above the cloud of darkness, saying: Repent ye, repent ye, and seek no more to destroy my servants whom I have sent unto you to declare good tidings. (Helaman 5:29)
And then, the example I was talking about:
And it came to pass when they heard this voice, and beheld that it was not a voice of thunder, neither was it a voice of a great tumultuous noise, but behold, it was a still voice of perfect mildness, and it did pierce even to the soul - (Helaman 5:30)
There is no doubt in my mind that God was angry. His righteous servants were about to be murdered in cold blood because they had been preaching of His son, even Jesus Christ. He could have caused that the prison, and everyone in it, be destroyed. He has the power to do as He wishes. But he chose to speak to them with "a still voice of perfect mildness". And He was able to pierce the souls of the wicked men. Yes, I know that the source of the voice had as much to do as the volume when it came to the convincing of these men, but it really made me think. Had God used a thunderous voice, I don't think it would have been as effective. But because he spoke in almost a whisper, the effect was profound. His love for Nephi and Lehi, and even His concern for the Lamanite captors became evident in his tone.
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| ©Darrell Wyatt |
But the lesson, for me, did not end there. During this experience, all of the captors and prisoners - about three hundred of them - cried unto the Lord for forgiveness, which they received.
And it came to pass that there came a voice unto them, yea, a pleasant voice, as if it were a whisper, saying:
Peace, peace be unto you because of your faith in my Well Beloved, who was from the foundation of the world. (Helaman 5:46-47)
A pleasant voice! There was no lingering animosity from Heavenly Father for the sins that these men had committed. He chastised them, forgave them, and moved on. No screaming necessary. No grudge held. Just perfect parenting. How grateful I am this morning for that example and for the countless other lessons that I learn from the scriptures.
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