Believing is Seeing

Seest thou that ye are created after mine own image? Yea, even all men were created in the beginning after mine own image.(Ether 3:15)

When the rest of the world was scattered in confusion at the time of the tower of Babel, there was one man who knew beforehand of the Lord’s plan to diversify the people.  He prayed in such faith that the Lord granted his prayer and spared his family and friends from the confounding of the languages.  This man, named Moriancumer, or the brother of Jared, was commanded to build ships to travel to a distant land.  He built the ships, but was faced with a problem: how to light the interior of the crafts so that the people did not have to travel in darkness.  He could not use windows, for they would be dashed to pieces, and to light fires would be dangerous.  He did all he could with the knowledge that he had, then took the problem to the Lord in faith.  And then Moriancumer finished building ships for his people whereby they could cross the great waters to the promised land, and he had a discussion with the Lord, saying: “Behold, O Lord, will thou suffer us to cross the great waters in darkness?”

And the Lord said to the brother of Jared: What will you have me do to have light in your vessels?

And it came to pass that the brother of Jared did molten out of a rock sixteen small stones; and they were white and clear, even as transparent glass; and he carried them in his hands upon the top of the mount, and cried again unto the Lord, saying: Behold, O Lord, thou can do this. I know thou art able to show forth great power, which looks small unto the understanding of men.  Therefore, touch these stones, O Lord, with thy finger, that they may shine forth in the darkness, and light our vessels while we cross the sea.

And it came to pass that when the brother of Jared had said these words, behold, the Lord stretched forth his hand and touched the stones one by one with his finger. And the veil was taken from off the eyes of the brother of Jared, and he saw the finger of the Lord; and it was as the finger of a man, like unto flesh and blood; and the brother of Jared fell down before the Lord, for he was struck with fear.

And the Lord saw that the brother of Jared had fallen to the earth; and the Lord said unto him: Arise, why hast thou fallen?

And he saith unto the Lord: I saw the finger of the Lord, and I feared lest he should smite me; for I knew not that the Lord had flesh and blood.

And the Lord said unto him: Because of thy faith thou hast seen that I shall take upon me flesh and blood; and never has man come before me with such exceeding faith as thou hast; for were it not so ye could not have seen my finger. And never have I showed myself unto man whom I have created, for never has man believed in me as thou hast. Seest thou that ye are created after mine own image? Yea, even all men were created in the beginning after mine own image. (Ether2:18-25; 3:1-9,15)
We may reach points on our journey where the terrain is rough, and it is so dark we cannot see.  The storms are fierce; circumstances are beyond our control. We cannot bear to see those we love suffer, or travel in the dark, but there is nothing else we can do to help them.  We have done all we can, and now all that is left is to pray. We pray for a miracle, then check the window each day to see if a mountain has moved.  Then one day, the eyes of our faith are opened, and we become aware that mountainous problems are receding, inch by inch.  We see the Lord has stretched forth his hand and touched lives one by one, softening hearts, lifting burdens, and  lighting the way.


Dinner Talk
1.  According to the Lord Jesus Christ, in whose image are we created?
2.  What does this passage teach us about the nature of the Father and the Son?
3.  What does the brother of Jared’s example teach us about building a personal relationship with Jesus Christ? About trusting in Him?
4.  The Holy Ghost is the third member of the Godhead.  How is having the companionship of the Holy Ghost like being in the presence of God?