Teaching by analogy/story

1 Nephi 8 is a parable about life. Lehi is shown a vision of the tree of life as well as the many obstacles and temptations that exist. These items all represent other things that exist in real life. Essentially, Lehi was shown a play by God that helped him better understand life and the decisions that his children would make.

This is very interesting that God would choose to show a story/parable to teach about life and the decisions people make. He was able to boil down decisions into very clear outcomes. He also captured many of the reasons people don't make good decisions. It's an incredible way to show how life works.

I think the placement of this parable helps to show an important way to teach. We can help people understand by telling applicable stories that teaches principles or puts things in context. Most everyone's life fits into the tree of life story and it can give us something to shoot for while also let us know that there are temptations and obstacles.

I hope you enjoy this parable as it appears quite helpful in giving us perspective on life.

Let Every Man Esteem His Brother as Himself

I'm a big fan of D.C. 38:24 and 25. Here's those verses along with a couple following them.

24And let every man ^aesteem his brother as himself, and practise^bvirtue and holiness before me.

25And again I say unto you, let every man esteem his ^abrother as himself.

26For what man among you having twelve sons, and is no respecter of them, and they serve him obediently, and he saith unto the one: Be thou clothed in robes and sit thou here; and to the other: Be thou clothed in rags and sit thou there—and looketh upon his sons and saith I am ^ajust?

27Behold, this I have given unto you as a parable, and it is even as I am. I say unto you, be ^aone; and if ye are not one ye are not mine.

28And again, I say unto you that the enemy in the secret chambers seeketh your ^alives.

Clearly the Lord repeats, "Let every man esteem his brother as himself" because it's important. Continuing on in verse 26 and verse 27, the Lord says that if we're not united, we're not his. Then he says, "the enemy in the secret chambers seeketh your lives." I think He's emphasizing the importance of love and unity but then saying, "this isn't so easy. The evil one (Satan) wants to ruin you." He does this by causing contention (3 Nephi 11:28,29). Consider how much damage is caused by a divorce (the opposite of unity). Anger also proceeds so many poor decisions. Love, on the other hand, overshadows a lot of poor things. I think if we did a better job greeting visitors to our meetings, it would be tough for them not to come back. Certainly it's true in my job. When my boss and co-workers show love and appreciation for me and when we have a common goal (difficult for the most powerful and least powerful person in a company to have a common goal, but when they do, that's a powerful company), I love being there and do good work.

Here's another few verses emphasizing the need for being good to one's brother. In the end, that's what we'll be judged on. A few examples: Marvin Ashton said roughly, "the quickest and best way to tell how one is coming unto Christ is by the way he treats other people."

Further, please consider Matthew 25. It contains 3 parables: the parable of the ten virgins, the parable of the talents, and the parable of the sheep and the goats. Quickly, the parable of the ten virgins teaches that church members will not all be prepared when Christ comes. It's vital for members to fill their lamps with oil in order to be prepared for Christ's coming. The parable of the talents teaches that God makes investments in us (talents - probably should be translated coins as to avoid confusion with the English word "talent" i.e., a skill, which is different) and expects a return on his investment. Some people have bigger investments in them (i.e., more talents), but they also must have a much bigger return. So taken together we've learned that members need to fill their lamps (i.e., do things) and not everyone needs to fill their lamp the same (so don't compare yourselves to one another). Finally, the sheep and the goats parable says that those who feed, clothe, visit, and care for the needy are going to end up on the right hand of God. Those who don't will be cast out of his presence. I think this last parable is teaching us how we fill our lamps and pay back the investment God makes in us. We help others. We are kind to others. We teach others. That's how we fill our lamps and pay back the investment God makes in us. (Unfortunately these parables many times are not looked at together. I have heard the following idea at least twice in the last 6 months: "so make sure you sure your talents with others by doing things like singing in the ward choir." Generally speaking, God doesn't care that much if we sing in the ward choir; certainly not nearly as much as caring for another.)

We can add that we must take care of people both spiritually and temporally - see Mosiah 4:26 (26And now, for the sake of these things which I have spoken unto you—that is, for the sake of retaining a remission of your sins from day to day, that ye may ^awalk guiltless before God—I would that ye should ^bimpart of your substance to the ^cpoor, every man according to that which he hath, such as ^dfeeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and administering to their relief, both spiritually and temporally, according to their wants.)

So to conclude, we fill our lamps and pay back our investments God makes in us by caring about other people. Now that's interesting. I have a lot to learn about there. This makes me think of a great verse on how we show faith, but I'll leave that for tomorrow.

Have a great night.

LaDon