In Ether chapter 2, the Bro. of Jared and company arrive in a spot of ground that was comfortable enough for them to recover, and get settled in for four (4) years. This could have been a great place to live, but... The Lord had bigger plans for them. Sure they had traveled into previously uninhabited parts of the world, they had worked really hard to get to this new and apparently great place, the Lord needed them to continue to work hard.
So following the Lord's specific instructions, the Bro. of Jared and company build eight (8) huge barges. (The details of the story do not provide dimensions of the crafts, but seeing all that were in them, they would have to be huge*). Upon completing the task, the Bro. of Jared approaches the Lord, and reports that they had completed the work. Now remember, they had followed the specific instructions provided by the Lord. The Bro. of Jared identifies there are three issues that need to be resolved: They cannot breath, they cannot steer, and they cannot see.
The Lord is prepared for all three issues: Breath: cut an air hole. (Someday ask me about sleeping in a snow cave with the Scout Troop, and how cutting a hole in the cave saved the troop from the same delimea). Steering: - we'll come back to this one. Sight: The Lord gave that responsibility to the Bro. of Jared to solve. Notice how the other two, based upon the design of the barge, the passengers had no control (think the end of Finding Nemo, and all the fish are in the plastic bags floating in the ocean, but cannot control the bags). The light inside the barge could be influenced and would be handled by the people, so the Lord let him create a solution for that. A solution I am excited to one day.
Let's go back to the steering problem. The family of Lehi had a liahona to help them steer across the ocean, why not use the same ship design and tools for the Bro. of Jared? or the other way around: why did the Lord need to perform the miracle of the liahona? The Bro. of Jared and company didn't need one. These are some great questions, and would lead into a great conversation, but I want to stay focused on the methods used to help the Bro. of Jared and company. In Ether 2: 24 the Lord says "for the winds have gone forth out of my mouth, and also the rains and the floods have I sent forth." Then in Ether 6:5 "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." - This was the Lord's solution to moving the Bro. of Jared and company from point A to point B: a massive, never ending, pounding, terrible tempest to move this growing group of people across the ocean. Using a storm that lasted for nearly a full year. Why? The Lord would later provide a tool for families to use; He would split the Red Sea for the people to cross on dry ground; he moved Nephi around in a whirlwind from town to town, why use a storm? Not sure, but it worked.
What is the COVID-19 storm doing for us? What is it doing for me? It has been a challenge: working from home, virtual learning for the kids, not gathering with the Saints to share testimony, not having to shower every day, being forced to be diligent in scripture reading, diligent in praying, being forced to do ministering outside of the church building, wearing a mask everywhere. Not really the virus (I pray our family won't be tested with that trial, but I know we may yet be tested), but more the side effects. The Bro. of Jared and company may understand this. They were stuck inside for almost a year too. Please note that when I say diligent at reading scriptures and praying, I know I have to be diligent because it is so easy to not do those things during this crazy time.
And what did the Bro. of Jared do during the trip on / in the water? He praised the Lord. He gave thanks each time they were on top of the water. Each time they were below the crashing waves. For fresh air. For light to see. For family to be with. For the adventure of it all. Do I give thanks for my cramped apartmet, screaming, loud, always hungry, wonderful children? Do I give thanks for my job, for Jennifer's job? For working cars, for protection from the virus? For the blessing it has been to administer the Sacrament to my family at home? To administer the Sacrament to those who cannot do so for themselves. I have so much to be grateful for. Even the storm that is constantly pushing my toward that promise land.
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* Considering all the livestock, including honey bees this group carried over the ocean with them: the same demand was not asked of by Lehi and his family. They took animals, but that was not their focus. When they hit the ground they started planting all their grain. The bees and animals were already in the land. The Lord knows the beginning and the end, and everything in between! He is always preparing His people for the challenges that will be asked of them. In this case: Lehi and family, they landed in a place that had all the necessary livestock and required bee hives to be successful. And the Lord did it in a natural and understandable way. (Though it is best understood in hindsight. Looking forward and or during the storm, the blessing are harder to see because we are in the midst of them and don't have the perspective to understand the power of the blessings).
