Jaredite Journey

I love Nephi's instruction to "liken all scripture unto us." A master institute teacher, James Wright, taught me to apply this principle to imagery in the scriptures. Doing so has produced a wealth of gospel insight. One of my favorite "liken unto us" stories is the Jaredite journey. By faith they undertook a long, treacherous voyage to inherit a land "choice above all other lands." Their story includes powerful parallels to our migration through mortality. Let's apply the following images to ourselves:

• the promised land
• barges
• wind
• the sea and waves
• stones for light

The Promised Land

The Jaredites needed to leave home. As with Abraham, Lehi, Zoram, and others, they left familiar--yet cursed and decaying--surroundings for God's promise of something better.

And it came to pass that Jared spake again unto his brother, saying: Go and inquire of the Lord...And who knoweth but the Lord will carry us forth into a land which is choice above all the earth? And if it so be, let us be faithful unto the Lord, that we may receive it for our inheritance (Ether 1:38).

And the Lord would not suffer that they should stop beyond the sea in the wilderness, but he would that they should come forth even unto the land of promise, which was choice above all other lands, which the Lord God had preserved for a righteous people (Ether 2:7).

Jared's people desired what God was offering. As they were willing to be faithful and righteous, God would not let them stop short of their inheritance. He would direct them to their promised land.

God's plan for us is no different. We agreed to leave our pre-mortal state and be "faithful unto the Lord." He promised to give us His Celestial Kingdom, a land "choice above all other lands." He will not suffer us to stop in the wilderness.

Barges

The Jaredites travelled in boats, or "barges." Their construction and function teach us much.

And they were built after a manner that they were exceedingly tight, even that they would hold water like unto a dish...and the door thereof, when it was shut, was tight like unto a dish. (Ether 2:17)

And it came to pass that when they were buried in the deep there was no water that could hurt them, their vessels being tight like unto a dish...And thus they were driven forth; and no monster of the sea could break them, neither whale that could mar them... (Ether 6:7,10)

Recall the following details about these barges:

• They were made as God instructed.
• Jaredite families entered into them.
• The barges were then sealed.
• Nothing could harm the Jaredites while in the barges.
• The barges were going to the promised land.

Consider our covenants. God dictates how they are made. We enter into them with our families and are sealed therein. If we stay in them our destination is fixed. We may be tossed about, but we will reach the promised land if we do not abandon ship.

Wind

The barges offered protection, but not propulsion. God had a plan for that:

And it came to pass that the Lord God caused that there should be a furious wind blow upon the face of the waters, towards the promised land; and thus they were tossed upon the waves of the sea before the wind. And it came to pass that the wind did never cease to blow towards the promised land while they were upon the waters; and thus they were driven forth before the wind (Ether 6:5,8).

Storms and waves notwithstanding, the furious wind pushed the Jaredites to the promised land. It never ceased blowing. Perhaps sometimes they wished it would, but no wind on the ocean means death.

The Spirit of the Lord is our furious wind. It relentlessly pushes us toward eternal life. We may wish for calm seas, but with each wave we are closer to our destination.  If the wind stops blowing, apostasy and spiritual death are imminent.

The Sea and Waves

God did not provide hot air balloons. The Jaredites were constrained to travel in the sea.

...they got aboard of their vessels or barges, and set forth into the sea, commending themselves unto the Lord their God. And it came to pass that the Lord God caused that there should be a furious wind blow upon the face of the waters, towards the promised land; and thus they were tossed upon the waves of the sea before the wind. And it came to pass that they were many times buried in the depths of the sea, because of the mountain waves which broke upon them, and also the great and terrible tempests which were caused by the fierceness of the wind. And it came to pass that when they were buried in the deep there was no water that could hurt them, their vessels being tight like unto a dish, and also they were tight like unto the ark of Noah; therefore when they were encompassed about by many waters they did cry unto the Lord, and he did bring them forth again upon the top of the waters. (Ether 6:4-7)

The reaction of the water's surface to the wind was terrible turbulence. This was no surprise to God. He prepared the travelers against the rough conditions, and when they were buried in the water He brought them back up.

Life might be calmer if the Spirit were our our transport medium. Alas, our sea is the flesh, which resists the Spirit, creating tempest-like tribulations. This is no surprise to God. He prepared us against these conditions. If we call on His name each time we are knocked down, He will bring us up again.

Stones for Light

A year of turbulence in the dark would have been unbearable. The solution?

...suffer not that they shall go forth across this raging deep in darkness; but behold these [sixteen clear stones] which I have molten out of the rock...the Lord stretched forth his hand and touched the stones one by one with his finger... (Ether 3:1,6)

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... (Ether 6:3,10).

We cannot maintain our covenants amid spiritual darkness. As with the Jaredites, God gives us "stones" for light. He gives us the rock of revelation through the church's sixteen-member revelatory body, consisting of Jesus and his prophets and apostles.

Conclusion

The imagery of this story, applied to our quest for exaltation, teaches this ubiquitous Book of Mormon theme:

• Take the straight and narrow path by making, keeping, and renewing covenants.
• Hold fast to iron rod, that is, the word of God.
• Let the Spirit of God guide you to exaltation.

The words of Christ tell us what we must do, but the Holy Ghost shows us (2 Nephi 32:3,5). This is why we liken scripture unto ourselves. Book of Mormon authors have given us stories, doctrinal teachings, and powerful imagery. We should "feast upon the words of Christ" and apply them to our lives.