Drawn back to the fold

I was reading in 2 Nephi 4 this morning, and Lehi’s statement to the children of Laman intrigued me:

If ye are brought up in the way ye should go ye will not depart from it.

Now, I don’t know if there’s another way to describe it, but it seems pretty clear that Laman and Lemuel did depart from the way. So why does Lehi say this?

Maybe it’s just a general rule and has exceptions. “For the most part, if you teach your children to love God, they’ll love him.”

Or perhaps Laman was listening in on Lehi’s blessing — it’s hard to imagine that he wouldn’t be there — and Lehi was trying to give him a hint. “Laman, I taught you well. Why are you doing this? Stop rebelling already, okay?” And he figured that telling this to Laman’s children was a good way to give Laman some accountability to his family, perchance.

Or maybe we’re focusing on too short of a timescale. Since life does go on after death, perhaps it means that in the end — and “the end” would mean eternity here, not the moment when you shed this mortal coil — the child will return to the path…somehow. Here’s Orson F. Whitney quoting Joseph Smith:

The Prophet Joseph Smith declared — and he never taught more comforting doctrine — that the eternal sealings of faithful parents and the divine promises made to them for valiant service in the Cause of Truth, would save not only themselves, but likewise their posterity. Though some of the sheep may wander, the eye of the Shepherd is upon them, and sooner or later they will feel the tentacles of Divine Providence reaching out after them and drawing them back to the fold. Either in this life or the life to come, they will return. They will have to pay their debt to justice; they will suffer for their sins; and may tread a thorny path; but if it leads them at last, like the penitent Prodigal, to a loving and forgiving father’s heart and home, the painful experience will not have been in vain. Pray for your careless and disobedient children; hold on to them with your faith. Hope on, trust on, till you see the salvation of God. (Conference Report, Apr. 1929, 110.)

I don’t entirely understand how that’ll work, but I’m fine with that. (After all, I don’t understand how women work, and yet I know they’re real. :P) I’m not a father yet but this is a beautiful promise — and one that doesn’t take away the child’s agency in the least. It’s more of a turning of the hearts of the children to their fathers; God can turn their heart, but it’s them who has to do the walking.

Thoughts?

(Incidentally, one of my readers has started a daily Book of Mormon blog, where they’ll be posting about their reading.)

Great post Ben. Thanks for posting that link to my new blog as well.

I have always had a hard time with that quote and how it all works with agency. Especially if you think about Adam….I’m sure he was a good guy. He was sealed to his wife by Hevenly Father Himself. But we know he has at least one of his children that are truly lost to him (Cain).

If you read Pres. Smith’s quote, it isn’t absolute. There are a lot of ifs in there. I’m not sure what that changes, though. I’d be surprised if Eve isn’t still praying for Cain.

I have often wondered about this also. I can find comfort in many statements and crushed hope in other statements. Have you listened to Bruce R. McConkie’s talk “The Seven Deadly Heresies?”

My conclusion is to never give up hope and to have total faith in the Lord. After all, our children are His children too and He loves all of us perfectly.

Even though “every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is the Christ,” not every knee owner will be exalted, but they will receive a degree of glory.

I sometimes wonder if this verse is Lehi’s way of saying that Laman’s children will not be as accountable for their sins, because they are simply following the teachings of their parents. In a way, he may be placing the burden of guilt upon Laman, saying, in essence, “If these children do wickedly, it is not their fault, because children do not often stray from the teachings of their parents.”

Other passages of the scriptures indicate that the Lamanites are almost more favored in the eyes of God because their wickedness is merely cultural tradition, passed on by their parents, rather than personal rebellion against God.

So maybe this is Lehi’s way of placing the curse on Laman, who did personally rebel against God, and placing a blessing on his posterity, who simply followed the traditions that Laman started.

Sorry, this comment doesn’t really go with this post, but I saw your pictures on flikr and I thought they were great! Tell me about your fascination of the drinking fountain though… :)

Reader: You’re welcome. :) As for the quote, I don’t see a lot of ifs in there; it seems to be fairly straightforward, unless I’m missing something. The eventuality of the return isn’t in question (at least as I’m reading it) — the only question is how long it’ll take and how much it’ll hurt. And I like the idea of Eve still praying for Cain. I might steal that for a play someday… :)

Janet: A good conclusion. :) And Joseph only says “save,” he doesn’t say “exalt.” But even that is better than leaving your child to suffer in hell.

Jeff: I can see that. It’s a good addition to the array of possibilities. :)

Diane: Thanks! As for the drinking fountain, see my blog post today. :)

Hey, Ben :)

I’ve been thinking more about the story of Lehi and his family in the recent past than I ever have before because of the play that I’m in (and requiring you to come and see, by the way). Since I’m playing Lemuel’s wife, it’s given me a really unique opportunity to explore exactly what “wickedness” means, and to think more about these people as a family because - really - of ANY story in the Book of Mormon, this is a story about a FAMILY. We hear more about their workings with their wives and children in this story than any other story I can think of in any set of scripture.

I’ve been working to try and apply it a little more as well. For example, in our show - Lemuel and his wife really love each other. They get along well. They’re good parents to their children in that they want them to be happy and try to raise them well. It’s been making me think about a pastor in the area where I grew up who preaches seminars about how evil the Mormon’s are, but still goes home to a wife that I’m sure he loves, you know? Evil doesn’t just have one face. Beyond that, the daughters of Ishmael and the sons of Lehi + Zoram were not matched up based on righteousness - they were most likely matched according to age. So what happens, then, if one of the sons of Lehi is more righteous than his wife or vice versa?

Anyway - this isn’t really a response to your blog itself as an addition to the thoughts I’ve been having as I try to make this story feel more real. Maybe we can find time to have a real good jaw about it. . . that and our stories.

Ben,

I agree, it sounds pretty solid and sure, until the last little bit:

but if it leads them at last, like the penitent Prodigal, to a loving and forgiving father’s heart and home, the painful experience will not have been in vain.

What do you think? Sounds like even if all goes as planned, and they pay the price, there is still an IF there - it may have been in vain.

Joni: Haha, I’m definitely coming, don’t worry. :) I think it’s really important to see things like that bit you mentioned about Lemuel and his wife — it’s more real by far, and it helps us relate. Yes, we need to get together sometime. I’m starting a new novel and plan to send the first few chapters in to a publisher. We’ll talk. :)

Reader: Hmm, that’s certainly a valid reading. But for me I don’t sense an “if” in there — to me it’s a figure of speech meaning only that the pain is worth it, not that the inevitability of it is in question. But perhaps that’s just me. :)

[…] And to answer Diane’s question: […]