At the request of a friend I am re-posting a previous blog entry from my former Blog site. Enjoy.
Mike
My family and I were reading the Book of Mormon one morning some years ago. We read the following:
And it came to pass that while my father tarried in the wilderness he spake unto us, saying: Behold, I have dreamed a dream; or, in other words, I have seen a vision. 1st Nephi 8:2 The Book of Mormon And it came to pass after I had prayed unto the Lord I beheld a large and spacious field.
And as I partook of the fruit thereof it filled my soul with exceedingly great joy; wherefore, I began to be desirous that my family should partake of it also; for I knew that it was desirable above all other fruit.
And as I cast my eyes round about, that perhaps I might discover my family also, I beheld a river of water; and it ran along, and it was near the tree of which I was partaking the fruit.
And I looked to behold from whence it came; and I saw the head thereof a little way off; and at the head thereof I beheld your mother Sariah, and Sam, and Nephi; and they stood as if they knew not whither they should go.
And I looked to behold from whence it came; and I saw the head thereof a little way off; and at the head thereof I beheld your mother Sariah, and Sam, and Nephi; and they stood as if they knew not whither they should go.
And it came to pass that I beckoned unto them; and I also did say unto them with a loud voice that they should come unto me, and partake of the fruit, which was desirable above all other fruit.
And it came to pass that I was desirous that Laman and Lemuel should come and partake of the fruit also; wherefore, I cast mine eyes towards the head of the river, that perhaps I might see them.
And it came to pass that I saw them, but they would not come unto me and partake of the fruit.
And I beheld a rod of iron, and it extended along the bank of the river, and led to the tree by which I stood.
And it came to pass that there arose a mist of darkness; yea, even an exceedingly great mist of darkness, insomuch that they who had commenced in the path did lose their way, that they wandered off and were lost
But, to be short in writing, behold, he saw other multitudes pressing forward; and they came and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press their way forward, continually holding fast to the rod of iron, until they came forth and fell down and partook of the fruit of the tree.
And he also saw other multitudes feeling their way towards that great and spacious building.
And great was the multitude that did enter into that strange building. And after they did enter into that building they did point the finger of scorn at me and those that were partaking of the fruit also; but we heeded them not.
These are the words of my father: For as many as heeded them, had fallen away 1st Nephi 8:9-34
And it came to pass after I, Nephi, having heard all the words of my father, concerning the things which he saw in a vision, and also the things which he spake by the power of the Holy Ghost, which power he received by faith on the Son of God—and the Son of God was the Messiah who should come—I, Nephi, was desirous also that I might see, and hear, and know of these things, by the power of the Holy Ghost, which is the gift of God unto all those who diligently seek him, as well in times of old as in the time that he should manifest himself unto the children of men. 1st Nephi 10:17
For it came to pass after I had desired to know the things that my father had seen, and believing that the Lord was able to make them known unto me, as I sat pondering in mine heart I was caught away in the Spirit of the Lord, yea, into an exceedingly high mountain, which I never had before seen, and upon which I never had before set my foot.
And I said: Yea, thou knowest that I believe all the words of my father.
And when I had spoken these words, the Spirit cried with a loud voice, saying: Hosanna to the Lord, the most high God; for he is God over all the earth, yea, even above all. And blessed art thou, Nephi, because thou believest in the Son of the most high God; wherefore, thou shalt behold the things which thou hast desired. 1st Nephi 11:1-6
The words jumped off the page as I finished verse six! "...thou shalt behold the things which thou hast desired." The scriptures had seemed much richer with meaning to me since our family had been making a special effort to read the scriptures together each morning. Now, today, these words seemed to sink deeply into my soul. Nephi had desired to know, to see the things his father, Lehi had seen--to see the vision of the Tree of Life, the straight path, the iron rod; all of it. He had believed that he could see. then he pondered. He thought deeply. He prayerfully considered, and he saw! Could I also see? Might I be able to behold what Lehi and Nephi saw? Was there a reason why it might be important for me to see? Was I being presumptuous in my desire to see these things? The questions were exciting but unsettling. The more I pondered, the more I was impressed with these thoughts.
I finally came to the conclusion that it was time to take up the question with the Lord. In my prayers at the conclusion of scripture study I said something like the following: "Heavenly Father, I have been excited by what I have just read in the Book of Mormon. The words of Nephi, and his faith and desire, have cause me to ask many questions. I desire to see what Lehi and Nephi saw. I don't know whether it is important or even necessary to see this vision of the Tree of Life. Perhaps it may not be in my best interest to see these things. Maybe I am unready or unworthy to see them. Thow knowest I have the desire that thy will should be done in this thing, but if it would be helpful instead of hurtful for me, and if it be Thy will, someday, in Thine own good time I desire to see what Nephi saw. I ask it in the name of Thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ, Amen." Then I went on with my day, largely forgetting about the prayer and the concept.
Several weeks later, my son, Shawn, who had some free time to spend with his father, said to me, "Dad, can we go on a hike this weekend? "Sure, son, where shall we go?" "I don't know, maybe Angel's Landing, we been up there yet and it's supposed to be really cool up there." So Angel's Landing it was. I was slightly apprehensive. Angle's landing's reputation had preceded it: A 1,500 foot high red rock monolith looming over the Virgin River, it protruded into an ox-bow bend of the river in the middle of Zion National Park. In the days before highly skilled climbers and park rangers had labored mightily to build an access trail to the top, the climb would have been impossible for slightly overweight, middle-aged, day hiking types like myself. Even now great energy and effort would be required, not to mention a measure of courage in the face of great heights and sheer drop-offs. The park map described the trail as strenuous, described the last part of the climb as traversing a narrow hog-back ridge, enjoined extreme caution and recommended against anyone with a fear of heights making the attempt. The round trip was estimated at four hours.
We left in the chill of an early winter morning. Lack of snow this year had made the hike possible but the temperature was sufficiently cold that we appreciated jeans and sweat shirts. Anticipating the need for all our energy, we packed light: A canteen, granola bars, apples and string cheese in a day pack. The sun had not yet reached the valley floor as we crossed the bridge over the river at the trailhead. After half a mile or so of easy walking on a concreted path, the trail slanted steeply upward. Shawn's 15 year old legs, lungs and heart carried him quickly forward as he took the lead. My somewhat older body parts protested as the path steepened into a series of switchbacks that must have been blasted out of solid rock. The trail, though strenuous was still easily passable, having been concreted. Occasional deer tracks and footprints showed where man and beast had stepped too soon after the pouring. We entered a narrow hanging canyon whose chill was welcome after the exertions of the lower trail. Blue sky above the crevice promised warmth at the top. Coming around a corner we faced "Walter's Wiggles", a series of switchbacks that were as crooked as Lombard Street in San Francisco. We began this ascent as our pulses soared once again. At the top of the wiggles the concrete of the trail reverted to the more customary dirt and stone.
Several hundred more yards and suddenly a prodigious view yawned at our feet! Fifteen hundred feet below, the Virgin River crawled past a parking lot where buses the size of pin-heads negotiated a string of a road. People, if they were at all visible, resembled dust mites. On the opposite side of the valley, red rock cliffs reared up toward the sky in a dizzying procession, topped by white sandstone above the oxide stains, they reminded me of a row of bare-headed farmers; white foreheads above sunburned faces. A microscopic fringe of fir and pine topped the cliffs. Our journey was only half complete. The real work lay ahead. The path now headed up solid slick-rock, steep enough that the steel chains that lined it were necessary. We pulled ourselves upward, hand-over-hand, breath coming harder and feet more cautiously placed. Gaining a supposed summit we now found ourselves on the narrow spine of the hog-back ridge. Looking ahead we saw what appeared to be sheer cliff. "Surely," I thought, "this must be the end of the trail." Then, looking upward, I saw, to my consternation, tiny steel chains on the summit of the cliff. Immediately ahead a single large flat-topped boulder about 15 feet long and six feet wide made up the entire edge of the ridge. Two 3 foot metal poles joined by a single strand of steel chain were the only concessions to safety on top of the boulder. The drop-off was 1,500 feet to the left an d800 feet to the right. The path ahead showed not much promise of widening out.
Trying to act brave and nonchalant for Shawn, I forged ahead, taking a grip on the chain so tight that my shoulders and neck would protest for several days afterward. My eyes were riveted ahead on the straight and narrow path. My mind was steeled against the chasm that seemed to pull me toward it. I think it was about this time that Shawn said, "Dad, are you afraid of heights?" I answered, "No...but I have a very healthy respect foir them! As a matter of fact, this feeling comes as close to the scripture, 'Fear God and give him glory...' as anything I can think of."
The Spirit of God suddenly rested upon me with great glory and intensity. My being was flooded with warmth, assurance and joy. The still small voice inside my mind and heart said, "What beholdest thou?" In reverence, I answered, I see a great gulf with a river of water running through it. the water is muddy or filthy. I see a straight and narrow path. I see a chain or "rod of iron" leading beside the path, so I may be safe and not fall. I see huge cliffs like great and spacious buildings, rearing themselves above this mountain, and ahead, at the top of Angel's landing, I see a tree, the "Tree of Life" where the path ends." The Spirit whispered, "God has answered your prayer. You have seen what you prayed to see. The Father need not show you a vision or give you a dream. He led you, by the Spirit, to this place, where you can see what you desired to see, and believed you could see. All things testify of Christ and His Father. Bear witness of them and rejoice in them."
The view from the top seemed eternal. Perhaps it was.
The words jumped off the page as I finished verse six! "...thou shalt behold the things which thou hast desired." The scriptures had seemed much richer with meaning to me since our family had been making a special effort to read the scriptures together each morning. Now, today, these words seemed to sink deeply into my soul. Nephi had desired to know, to see the things his father, Lehi had seen--to see the vision of the Tree of Life, the straight path, the iron rod; all of it. He had believed that he could see. then he pondered. He thought deeply. He prayerfully considered, and he saw! Could I also see? Might I be able to behold what Lehi and Nephi saw? Was there a reason why it might be important for me to see? Was I being presumptuous in my desire to see these things? The questions were exciting but unsettling. The more I pondered, the more I was impressed with these thoughts.
I finally came to the conclusion that it was time to take up the question with the Lord. In my prayers at the conclusion of scripture study I said something like the following: "Heavenly Father, I have been excited by what I have just read in the Book of Mormon. The words of Nephi, and his faith and desire, have cause me to ask many questions. I desire to see what Lehi and Nephi saw. I don't know whether it is important or even necessary to see this vision of the Tree of Life. Perhaps it may not be in my best interest to see these things. Maybe I am unready or unworthy to see them. Thow knowest I have the desire that thy will should be done in this thing, but if it would be helpful instead of hurtful for me, and if it be Thy will, someday, in Thine own good time I desire to see what Nephi saw. I ask it in the name of Thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ, Amen." Then I went on with my day, largely forgetting about the prayer and the concept.
Several weeks later, my son, Shawn, who had some free time to spend with his father, said to me, "Dad, can we go on a hike this weekend? "Sure, son, where shall we go?" "I don't know, maybe Angel's Landing, we been up there yet and it's supposed to be really cool up there." So Angel's Landing it was. I was slightly apprehensive. Angle's landing's reputation had preceded it: A 1,500 foot high red rock monolith looming over the Virgin River, it protruded into an ox-bow bend of the river in the middle of Zion National Park. In the days before highly skilled climbers and park rangers had labored mightily to build an access trail to the top, the climb would have been impossible for slightly overweight, middle-aged, day hiking types like myself. Even now great energy and effort would be required, not to mention a measure of courage in the face of great heights and sheer drop-offs. The park map described the trail as strenuous, described the last part of the climb as traversing a narrow hog-back ridge, enjoined extreme caution and recommended against anyone with a fear of heights making the attempt. The round trip was estimated at four hours.
We left in the chill of an early winter morning. Lack of snow this year had made the hike possible but the temperature was sufficiently cold that we appreciated jeans and sweat shirts. Anticipating the need for all our energy, we packed light: A canteen, granola bars, apples and string cheese in a day pack. The sun had not yet reached the valley floor as we crossed the bridge over the river at the trailhead. After half a mile or so of easy walking on a concreted path, the trail slanted steeply upward. Shawn's 15 year old legs, lungs and heart carried him quickly forward as he took the lead. My somewhat older body parts protested as the path steepened into a series of switchbacks that must have been blasted out of solid rock. The trail, though strenuous was still easily passable, having been concreted. Occasional deer tracks and footprints showed where man and beast had stepped too soon after the pouring. We entered a narrow hanging canyon whose chill was welcome after the exertions of the lower trail. Blue sky above the crevice promised warmth at the top. Coming around a corner we faced "Walter's Wiggles", a series of switchbacks that were as crooked as Lombard Street in San Francisco. We began this ascent as our pulses soared once again. At the top of the wiggles the concrete of the trail reverted to the more customary dirt and stone.
Several hundred more yards and suddenly a prodigious view yawned at our feet! Fifteen hundred feet below, the Virgin River crawled past a parking lot where buses the size of pin-heads negotiated a string of a road. People, if they were at all visible, resembled dust mites. On the opposite side of the valley, red rock cliffs reared up toward the sky in a dizzying procession, topped by white sandstone above the oxide stains, they reminded me of a row of bare-headed farmers; white foreheads above sunburned faces. A microscopic fringe of fir and pine topped the cliffs. Our journey was only half complete. The real work lay ahead. The path now headed up solid slick-rock, steep enough that the steel chains that lined it were necessary. We pulled ourselves upward, hand-over-hand, breath coming harder and feet more cautiously placed. Gaining a supposed summit we now found ourselves on the narrow spine of the hog-back ridge. Looking ahead we saw what appeared to be sheer cliff. "Surely," I thought, "this must be the end of the trail." Then, looking upward, I saw, to my consternation, tiny steel chains on the summit of the cliff. Immediately ahead a single large flat-topped boulder about 15 feet long and six feet wide made up the entire edge of the ridge. Two 3 foot metal poles joined by a single strand of steel chain were the only concessions to safety on top of the boulder. The drop-off was 1,500 feet to the left an d800 feet to the right. The path ahead showed not much promise of widening out.
Trying to act brave and nonchalant for Shawn, I forged ahead, taking a grip on the chain so tight that my shoulders and neck would protest for several days afterward. My eyes were riveted ahead on the straight and narrow path. My mind was steeled against the chasm that seemed to pull me toward it. I think it was about this time that Shawn said, "Dad, are you afraid of heights?" I answered, "No...but I have a very healthy respect foir them! As a matter of fact, this feeling comes as close to the scripture, 'Fear God and give him glory...' as anything I can think of."
The Spirit of God suddenly rested upon me with great glory and intensity. My being was flooded with warmth, assurance and joy. The still small voice inside my mind and heart said, "What beholdest thou?" In reverence, I answered, I see a great gulf with a river of water running through it. the water is muddy or filthy. I see a straight and narrow path. I see a chain or "rod of iron" leading beside the path, so I may be safe and not fall. I see huge cliffs like great and spacious buildings, rearing themselves above this mountain, and ahead, at the top of Angel's landing, I see a tree, the "Tree of Life" where the path ends." The Spirit whispered, "God has answered your prayer. You have seen what you prayed to see. The Father need not show you a vision or give you a dream. He led you, by the Spirit, to this place, where you can see what you desired to see, and believed you could see. All things testify of Christ and His Father. Bear witness of them and rejoice in them."
The view from the top seemed eternal. Perhaps it was.
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