After traveling for three days, Lehi and his family set up
camp near a river. The first thing he does is build an “altar of stones” and
makes an “offering” to the Lord, and gives thanks to God. (See 1 Nephi
2:6-7). The footnotes in these verses
are worth reading, they refer to several scriptures where other prophets built
altars. The most interesting to me, however, are two scriptures that tell us
how to build this type of altar:
5 And there shalt thou build an altar unto the Lord thy God, an altar of astones:
thou shalt not lift up any biron tool
upon them. 6 Thou shalt build the aaltar
of the Lord thy God of whole
stones: and thou shalt offer burnt offerings thereon unto the Lord thy God: 7 And thou
shalt offer peace aofferings,
and shalt eat there, and rejoice before the Lord
thy God. 8 And thou shalt write upon the stones all the words of
this law very plainly. Deut. 27:5-8
30 ¶Then Joshua built an altar unto the Lord God of Israel in mount Ebal, 31 As Moses
the servant of the Lord commanded
the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an aaltar of whole bstones, over which
no man hath lift up any ciron: and they
offered thereon burnt offerings unto the Lord,
and sacrificed peace offerings. Joshua 8:30-31
It appears altars are to be built from natural stones.
If I hadn’t actually lived through the past few years of my
life, and experienced children that “knew
not the dealings of that God that created them”, then I couldn’t really
understand how Laman and Lemuel became who they were. I feel Lehi’s pain as he
pleads with Laman, saying: “O that thou mightest be like unto this river,
continually running into the fountain of all righteousness.” And to Lemuel: “O
that thou mightest be like unto this valley, firm and steadfast, and immovable
in keeping the commandments of the Lord!”
Much has been written on this blog about trials I have
endured due to my sons’ choices. All of it shows my limited understanding of
the love our Savior has for all of us. I have indeed murmured in the past about
the stress of wayward children. Today, however, I thank the Lord for the
wonderful teachers he has given me in my sons’; I am convinced they are old,
wise souls that have condescended to come to be my sons. Their mission is to
teach a stubborn, proud man how to love unconditionally. How can I do anything
other than love and serve them?
that is a very interesting way to look at it Dad- about your sons being your teachers. I am so glad you are back to blogging!!! Love you tons.
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