Led into the Darkness: Trusting in God's Guidance

In Book of Mormon this week, we got to discuss Lehi’s dream of the tree of life, and once again I enjoyed the experience of finding that golden nugget that applies so well to my life right now. I think we get a little complacent reading stories from the Book of Mormon that we have heard many times, and that stops us from getting to really learn about our current lives in new ways based on the doctrine that we find in the scriptures. The Book of Mormon is like MAGIC in that you can read the whole thing, and if you go and read it again, it will take on a whole new meaning. But obviously, that’s a choice. If you choose to see is at face value, it won’t ever develop, nor will you. But if you are looking to learn something new, the way this class makes it possible to do, you find beautiful doctrines that you never fully understood or appreciated before.

            For me, this experience occurred as Lehi discusses the man dressed in white who appeared to him. In 1 Nephi 8:5-8, it states:

5 And it came to pass that I saw a man, and he was dressed in a white robe; and he came and stood before me.
  6 And it came to pass that he spake unto me, and bade me follow him.
  7 And it came to pass that as I followed him I beheld myself that I was in a dark and dreary waste.
  8 And after I had traveled for the space of many hours in darkness, I began to pray unto the Lord that he would have mercy on me, according to the multitude of his tender mercies.

I feel like in the past I have always just sort have dismissed that detail. I have never really stopped to think before about how this man, a man dressed in white, either representing the Lord himself or an angel of the Lord, directs Lehi into the darkness. Why would someone of light and truth direct Lehi into a place of darkness, unknown, and dreary? However, what comes next is vital. After much wandering in darkness, Lehi prays for the Lord to have mercy, and he shortly after beholds and comes to the tree of life to partake of the beautiful fruit. First, the Lord guides Lehi into the darkness so that he can eventually reach the beautiful tree representing God’s love. Only by passing through the dreary world (which is also used to describe this mortal life, incidentally) could Lehi reach the tree of Life. Second, Lehi could also only reach the tree of Life, or fully partake of God’s love, once he had learned to no longer rely on himself and call upon the Lord for his mercy and redemption. In other words, Lehi could only find God by accepting and utilizing Jesus Christ’s Atonement. For me, this passage somehow brought so much light to where I am in life. I sometimes feel like when I follow what the Lord wants me to do, it leads only into more confusion and uncertainty. This scripture reminded me that sometimes we cannot know where things are going but instead must trust that the Lord knows where I will be happiest and how I can get there. I need to trust that in those times of darkness or doubt, that’s when I need to call upon God and listen for his voice. In the end, we will be led to happiness and peace.

         It is easy when in the darkness to question the Lord’s timing, plan, and direction in our lives. But that must be the time where we all trust most completely in him. Because in those moments, we are reminded that we can never obtain true happiness and return to our Father in Heaven alone. We need Christ there to guide us and have mercy on us, even if we have to spend many hours in a dreary, dark waste where things seem confusion and uncertain. The tree of life is waiting for us, and when we partake of the fruit of the love of God, we will never regret any of the hard times that passed. We will only look forward with gratitude overflowing in our hearts for the Atonement of Jesus Christ.