Lessons from Eve

Yesterday during our family scripture study, we discussed Adam and Eve and reviewed several scriptures in Genesis and Moses.  In our church, we do not believe that Adam and Eve made a mistake.  We believe it was a necessary transgression to enable children to come to the world. 

Deseret Book recently published a pamphlet called "Give of Life - Lessons from Eve."  It is a condensed portion of the book by Camille Fronk Olson called "Women of the Old Testament."

As I read through this pamphlet, I was amazed by the truths taught and wanted to record a few of them here.

I loved this quote from the first page, "If we consider Eve's decision in the Garden of Eden as courageous and faith-driven and the results of that decision to be conducive to God's plan, we are more likely to recognize intelligence, strength, rational thinking, and great ability in women in general."

God called Adam AND Eve "good" (Genesis 1:31).  "Nowhere in scripture is man given dominion over woman, nor is woman given dominion over man. 

What is a "Help meet"?

This term has often been misunderstood...by myself, included.  I always thought of it like "helper," meaning that my husband does all the "important" stuff, and then I help him out.  Although he does do important things, and although I DO help him with a variety of things, there's more to the role that that.

In Hebrew, the word 'ezer (translated "help") "implies not a subordinate but rather someone who has strength to do what another cannot do for himself."  Women have life-giving power.  Men cannot produce children on their own.

Sister Olson also explains that the same Hebrew word appears throughout the Bible and "frequently appears in reference to God.  For example, God is the One who rescues us in our distress and has strength and power to save.  In this way, women are types of Christ."

The word translated as "meet" is "kenegdo" in Hebrew.  This "is a compound of three common words," and the root word (ngd) means "to be conspicuous" or "to be apparent."  In Jewish tradition, "The word means 'equal.'"

I love that.  A woman is a man's equal, who has strength to do what man cannot do for himself.

There are plenty more lessons within the pamphlet, and I plan to purchase the entire book.  It's amazing how these little ideas can shape the way we see our first parents, our Creator, the world around us, and ourselves. 

Tired?

I have been working hard--really hard--for the past several years.  Building The Power of Moms, raising four children, supporting my husband as our bishop, going through lots of health issues, writing for a variety of blogs and publications, speaking at conferences, and being in volved in a variety of school and church activities has left me feeling a bit tired (but happy).

Today I read Helaman 10, where Nephi is given the sealing power:
4 Blessed art thou, Nephi, for those things which thou hast done; for I have beheld how thou hast with unwearyingness declared the word, which I have given unto thee, unto this people. And thou hast not feared them, and hast not sought thine own life, but hast sought my will, and to keep my commandments.

5 And now, because thou hast done this with such unwearyingness, behold, I will bless thee forever; and I will make thee mighty in word and in deed, in faith and in works; yea, even that all things shall be done unto thee according to thy word, for thou shalt not ask that which is contrary to my will.
 
Because I'm so "weary" lately, this really popped out at me.  I think it's interesting that when the Lord is speaking to Nephi regarding such a sacred privilege, he uses the words "unwearyingness" twice.  The only other place in the scriptures where this word is used is in Helaman 15:6:
 
Yea, I say unto you, that the more part of them (the righteous Lamanites) are doing this, and they are striving with unwearied diligence that they may bring the remainder of their brethren to the knowledge of the truth; therefore there are many who do add to their numbers daily.
 
As I try to serve the Lord, to share His words and His love with others, and to be an instrument in His hands, I need to keep this idea of "unwearied diligence" in mind.
 
This also reminds me of the EFY theme this year to "Be of good courage."  In Joshua 1:9, it says, "Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." 
 
Brother Adam McBride, the session director for the week I was teaching, taught us that one definition for "dismayed" is "to lose enthusiasm." 
 
The Lord wants us to remain enthusisastic and unwearied as we do His work.  This means that we need to get sufficient rest so our bodies are strong, but it also means that we need to keep the faith, stand strong, and move forward with absolute confidence in the Lord, His grace, His mercy, His power, and His ability to do all things. 

The Liahona

This morning, I was reading in 1 Nephi 16, when Lehi and his family received the Liahona from the Lord.  It was a ball (or compass) made of fine brass that would direct the family on their journey to the promised land.

I think it's interesting that this guide was made out of the same material as the scriptures Nephi and his family brought with them from Jerusalem.  The brass plates were their guide, spiritually, and this Liahona was their guide physically.  It contained two spindles, "the one pointed the way whither we should go into the wilderness" (v.10).

As I read that this morning, I wondered why their were TWO spindles--wouldn't they only need one?

Then I did a google search and found this: http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/jbms/?vol=3&num=2&id=59.

It's a beautiful article published by the Neal A. Maxwell Institute, which teaches an engineering principle called "voting."  Basically, there needed to be two spindles so they could verify that the Liahona was operational.  It's a common engineering principle today, though it wasn't known back in Lehi's time or Joseph Smith's time. 

I want to be in tune to the messages that the Lord is sending to me.  I don't have a brass ball, but I have my scriptures, I am able to pray to the Lord each day, and I hear Him helping me, guiding me, and providing the way for me to draw closer to Him.