Treasures in Heaven

Helaman 8

Nephi is still at the garden wall engaging in a conversation with a large group of people who have become interested in his prayer and subsequent preaching.  Some are incensed at his preaching saying he is stirring up the people against their leaders, etc.  These are judges, etc., who are protecting their evil works.  These are some of the Gadianton robbers who walked among the people.  There are others who actually say he is a prophet and leave him alone.  Some believe him.

Nephi asks them why they are so intent on heaping up wrath against the day of judgment instead of laying up treasures in heaven. (v25)  I’m not certain why this verse grabbed me.  Maybe it is because I wrote a song with its title many years ago.  Just how do we “lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven”?  What does that mean? Part of that answer is in the beginning of the verse.  Nephi says to stop rejecting the truth.  Stop rebelling against God.  Today that would look like rebellion against the truths we are taught as a youth from family and church leaders. 

When I wrote my song probably 20 years ago, I remember the pondering and searching for the meaning.  I remember sitting at the funeral of my aunt and listening to all the wonderful and simple things she had done all her life.  She was truly a good woman.  As I pondered the things said on my way home, the lyrics for this song became quite clear.  All the things we do that are good in this life will be laid up as treasures in heaven.  It reminds me of a story I was told in SS many years ago as a youth.  A lady was going through a field looking for the best ears of corn.  Somehow she managed to get to the end of the row and her arms were empty.  Will our arms be empty when we leave this earthly existence?  Will we have wasted our trip through the “field” in search of treasures?  It is something we need to give serious thought to daily.  It is one act at a time.