There is a plan

Ether 1 – The beginning of a great nation. Their start was during the time the Tower of Babel was being constructed. Jared asked his brother to pray to the Lord that they would be able to communicate, and also that this blessing would be extended to their friends and family.

I've often tried to wrap my brain around this story. There's pandemonium all around and somehow these two brothers are able to communicate enough to get the brother of Jared to approach the Lord in prayer and ask for these special favors. Well, it worked. And the Lord had a plan. He always has a plan. Interesting that his plan was exactly as Jared suggested – that they would be led into a promised land. Jared told his brother “. . . let us be faithful unto the Lord, that we may receive it for our inheritance.”

They were instructed by the Lord to gather their belongings, animals of every kind both male and female and seeds and to travel. He told them he would meet them at a certain place and bless them. Why was the Lord so willing to bless them? I think the answer is in the last verse: “. . . because this long time ye have cried unto me.” What does that mean? They prayed and they listened and obeyed

As we go through life's experiences, we too will have obstacles that sometimes seem as big as what they were facing in this most historic event. We will be confused and unable to communicate to others. A great example is shown in Jared and his brother that is worthy of emulation, i.e. pray to the Lord for guidance in the trial – to be shown what we are to do and THEN have the faith necessary to follow through with the assignment.

Whether it be in family matters, in church callings, in interactions with family and relatives or neighbors and ward members, if we are prayerful, we too will get promptings – subtle messages from the Lord. In order to remain faithful, we must follow through with these promptings and show the Lord we can be trusted. When he gives us small assignments, these too will grow in their level of trust from the Lord, and we will be given more.

So how does this apply to me today? Oh where do I begin? I feel such an urgency to get my family all on the same page again. There is angst between siblings that is fracturing our family. This is not pleasing to the Lord and it is our responsibility to try to correct it. It is in part why we are purchasing a cabin that hopefully will become a gathering place where we can feel each others goodness again and mend hurt feelings. Hopefully, it will be a place of refuge and peace will be within its walls and be a place where we will want to be.

In my church calling, it is something new to me. I am responsible for 48 young women in 12 wards who are looking to me for guidance in their callings. What are they to do for their wards that will be what the Lord wants from them? The direction to me has been clear: Visiting Teaching. As I ponder this, shards of light have come to me. Like Jared and his brother, I too must continue to pray for guidance and show forth the faith to follow through with the promptings I'm given.