The Role of Friends

I was reading Job this morning; now how many different blog posts could be made about this one story? Dozens. But, most of them have been taught pretty exhaustively. What I want to focus on today is the role of Job's friends in the story, and what the Lord has taught us about friends.

After Job loses his livestock and family in Job 1, he then is covered in boils in chapter 2. In Job 2:11, an important occurrence happens:

"Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place... for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him to comfort him."

Then in verse 13, after they find Job, who is almost unrecognizable at this point, we read:

"So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was great."

In later chapters, his friends each counsel and comfort Job, one by one. We rightfully applaud Job for his ability to not forget God in the midst of his trials, but we forget that in chapter three, he asks, "Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?" Clearly he was at a very low point in his life, and it was undoubtedly getting to him. If it wasn't for the loving advice of Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, this story might have turned out very differently.

As usual, the Savior is the perfect example of friendship. Right after He admonished His disciples to "love one another," he said, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man may lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13). Perhaps we will never be faced with this ultimate test of friendship, but what will

What the Restoration Means to Me

I just watched this video today: 

and it really got me thinking about what the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ has really done for me. It's almost too blunt of a question in a way, because I really want to give the most stereotypical answer in existence: "Everything." But watching the youth in that video really take small details of the Restoration and apply it to their lives was inspiring, so I got to thinking.

I'll work on coming up with a more thorough answer for my blog, but in the mean time, please comment: What does the Restoration mean to you?

"Buried in the Depths of the Sea" - What we can learn from Ether 6

I love the story of the Jaredites and their travel to the promised land. As I listen and read about different people's analyses of their journey, there is just so much to learn from them, and I would venture to say that it is the best example of how to get through adversity throughout our lives. I may revoke that statement someday... but for now I'm sticking to it.
 
For those unfamiliar with the story, it all starts with near the Tower of Babel. The people were trying to build a tower that was so tall they could reach heaven. God didn't like that, and as punishment he confused all the people's languages so they couldn't really communicate with each other. Jared and his brother (usually we just refer to him uncreatively as the Brother of Jared) were rewarded for their righteousness, and God told them that if they would build some boats they could travel to a promised land where they could live with their families in peace.

All right, let's brainstorm here: what promised land are we all trying to reach? Could it be the Celestial Kingdom, the "third heaven"?

Of course, the journey to that promised land was going to be treacherous, and their boats had to be made just right. From here, I'm just going to go verse by verse in Ether 6 and throw in my thoughts as I do so. Hope it makes sense.

(2) For it came to pass after the Lord had prepared the stones which the brother of Jared had carried up into the mount, the brother of Jared came down out of the mount, and he did put forth the stones into the vessels which were prepared, one in each end thereof; and behold, they did give light unto the vessels. (3) And thus the Lord caused stones to shine in darkness, to give light unto men, women, and children, that they might not cross the great waters in darkness.

In Psalms 71:3 as well as Helaman 5:12, Christ is referred to as a rock. In my journey to my promised land, I am extremely thankful that I have such an incredible rock to

An answer to my prayers!

And this is how prayers are answered! This is an excerpt from Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball (you can read the whole thing here, if you'd like). I'd been having very similar feelings lately, and leading into this morning's personal study, I had a strong inclination to read one of the old Sunday School manuals. Normally, I wouldn't do that... they can be a bit dry sometimes. But I am very thankful that I was able to come across this:

In 1947 Elder Spencer W. Kimball received a letter from his son Andrew, who was serving a full-time mission. Andrew wrote: “I told one fellow … that I knew of the truthfulness of what I told him, and said that the Holy Ghost had borne witness of it to me. … When I thought about it later I was a little concerned that I should do such a thing.” Because of his concern he said, “I’ve carefully avoided bearing my testimony to anyone beyond the point of saying ‘I feel, I believe, etc.’”

Elder Kimball wrote back to his son. “I think I know exactly how you felt,” he said, “for I went through the same experience in my mission. I wanted to be very honest with myself and with the program and with the Lord. For a time I couched my words carefully to try to build up others without actually committing myself to a positive, unequivocal statement that I knew. I felt a little hesitant about it, too, for when I was in tune and doing my duty I felt the Spirit. I really wanted to say that which I really felt, that I knew, but I was reticent. When I approached a positive declaration, it frightened me and yet when I was wholly in tune and spiritually inspired, I wanted to testify. I thought I was being honest, very honest, but then I decided that I was fooling myself. …

“Undoubtedly, the day you testified to your investigator that you KNEW it was true, the Lord was trying so

"Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes."

In my home church building hangs a plaque with my picture, a New York map, and my favorite scripture, 2 Kings 6:16. It reads, "Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them."

I've loved that scripture for some time now, because of the comfort it has always given me, knowing that there are so many people on the other side of the veil pulling for me and even fighting for me.

What has really stood out to me these past couple weeks, though, is Elisha's prayer immediately after he make this statement. In my mind, I imagine Elisha's servant looking around very confused, counting those on his side (two) and then looking at the Assyrian army surrounding them. (For more detail, go to my blog post talking about this side of the story here.) Often, I have felt like that servant: overwhelmed, confused, and honestly terrified of the near future. Lately, I've felt a little more like Elijah.

In verse 17, it says, "And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see."

Elisha was lucky enough to know the power of God. He knew that he was being protected by something much greater than himself. He knew that, in the end at least, everything was going to work out. I imagine he probably still had a bit of a panic when he woke up to see the army surrounding him. But, when he remembered who was watching out for him, all he wanted was for the boy he was working with to be able to have that same comfort.

Every night I pray for almost the same thing: that those with whom I have been spending my time can have their eyes open. That they can look out and see the miracle that is this life and find ways of enjoying it, even in the most intimidating of conditions. When armies seem are surrounding them, and any escape seems impossible, that they can see the angels around them--in all forms--and feel protected and at peace.