Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Ether 3 Touching the Stones


Chapter 2 concluded with the Lord asking the Brother of Jared what he wanted him to do to provide light in the vessels.  In this chapter, we see that the Brother of Jared came up with a plan.  He took rocks and heated them until they were molten into glass.  He took sixteen of these molten stones (2 for each vessel) and presented them before the Lord saying, “…touch these stones, O Lord, with thy finger, and prepare them that they may shine forth in darkness; and they shall shine forth unto us in the vessels which we have prepared, that we may have light while we shall cross the sea.”  This event is often referred to as one of the ways prayer works.  The Lord is willing to bless us, but he wants us to come up with the plan, and then ask him to help us to carry it forward.  We need to provide the Lord with an answer and then see if that answer is acceptable to him.  For example, Jean and I both decided that we wanted to get married but we didn’t know if we should get a civil marriage or be married in the temple.  After meeting with both sets of parents and with our stake president, we decided to have a civil wedding.  We presented the plan to the Lord and he approved.  Our marriage was sweet and spiritual.  Two months later, at the anniversary of Jean’s baptism, we went through the Salt Lake Temple and received our sealing ordinance. 

Our three sons are all facing employment decisions.  They don’t know where they will be working in the future.  Each will need to do all they can and then present solutions to the Lord.  The Lord will then open the doors for them according to their faith.  Effectual doors will open.

 

Referring to the Lord touching the stones, I believe the Lord is touching each of the Stone children and grandchildren.  He is filling them with light to help them sail their seas.  We hope and pray for their success and we have faith in Jesus Christ and in our Heavenly Father that they will be delivered to their promised lands.

 

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