Stand in the Light and Beckon Loudly
Lehi’s allegorical dream, reveals bold truths and essential lessons that shed light on what’s wrong with excusing or downplaying the seriousness of sin in a misguided attempt to extend compassion to sinners, or persuade and encourage them to come unto Christ.
Picture Lehi after he ate of the fruit of the tree of life, he described his feelings, he said the fruit “filled [his] soul with exceedingly great joy.” (1 Nephi 8:12) Do you remember the effect of his experience?
His heart was moved with concern for others, but did his compassion cause him to encourage others to continue wandering in darkness?
Did he say, “Good for you! I’m so glad that you’ve found your own path.” NO! He could not, for he knew there was only one path that led to the tree and only one fruit that was “desirable above all other fruit.”
Therefore, he beckoned them “with a loud voice” that they would come unto him. He beckoned, not with a soft voice, his compassion made him bold. He was filled with a sincere desire for others to find the straight and narrow path.
I’m concerned that members of the church are not only softening their voices, but they are changing the message. I am concerned that too many who have “commenced in the path” are losing their way because they are letting go of the rod of iron.
Some imagine they are on a great mission to rescue, wandering off the path in search of those who are lost, but we cannot save them from the midst of darkness if we let go of the rod of iron and wander with them in darkness.
Lehi was not a cruel man, not uncompassionate or unloving just because he would not leave the tree to meet them where they were at, or change his message, or soften his voice. Lehi did not leave the tree and seek in darkness for his family, he understood that he could not save them unless he stood firm in the light of the tree; he stood his ground and beckoned them with a loud voice.
Spencer W. Kimball described prophets and their words of warning this way, “Those prophets I have known are the most loving of men. It is because of their love and integrity that they cannot modify the Lord’s message merely to make people feel comfortable. They are too kind to be so cruel” (Spencer W. Kimball, “Listen to the Prophets,” Ensign, May 1978, 77).
We are on a rescue mission, called to serve the Lord (D&C 4:3) and “proclaim liberty to the captives,” (D&C 138:31) but like Lehi, we must stand in the light, fixed in our position of truth, and clearly beckon to those who wander in darkness so that they will enter into the straight path that leads to the tree of life.
Picture Lehi after he ate of the fruit of the tree of life, he described his feelings, he said the fruit “filled [his] soul with exceedingly great joy.” (1 Nephi 8:12) Do you remember the effect of his experience?
His heart was moved with concern for others, but did his compassion cause him to encourage others to continue wandering in darkness?
Did he say, “Good for you! I’m so glad that you’ve found your own path.” NO! He could not, for he knew there was only one path that led to the tree and only one fruit that was “desirable above all other fruit.”
Therefore, he beckoned them “with a loud voice” that they would come unto him. He beckoned, not with a soft voice, his compassion made him bold. He was filled with a sincere desire for others to find the straight and narrow path.
I’m concerned that members of the church are not only softening their voices, but they are changing the message. I am concerned that too many who have “commenced in the path” are losing their way because they are letting go of the rod of iron.
Some imagine they are on a great mission to rescue, wandering off the path in search of those who are lost, but we cannot save them from the midst of darkness if we let go of the rod of iron and wander with them in darkness.
Lehi was not a cruel man, not uncompassionate or unloving just because he would not leave the tree to meet them where they were at, or change his message, or soften his voice. Lehi did not leave the tree and seek in darkness for his family, he understood that he could not save them unless he stood firm in the light of the tree; he stood his ground and beckoned them with a loud voice.
Spencer W. Kimball described prophets and their words of warning this way, “Those prophets I have known are the most loving of men. It is because of their love and integrity that they cannot modify the Lord’s message merely to make people feel comfortable. They are too kind to be so cruel” (Spencer W. Kimball, “Listen to the Prophets,” Ensign, May 1978, 77).
We are on a rescue mission, called to serve the Lord (D&C 4:3) and “proclaim liberty to the captives,” (D&C 138:31) but like Lehi, we must stand in the light, fixed in our position of truth, and clearly beckon to those who wander in darkness so that they will enter into the straight path that leads to the tree of life.
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